the presence of his little child, he impulsive

is in tho

he

ed with the dreadf

ead; killed b

a gasp, and th

iff, where he was shot down by the Sioux. He must

is his

r us to wait any longer; I don't understand how we have escaped thus far, for we are in greater dang

d Mrs. Starr calm

subject you and Dot to the trial,

her hastily remounted his pony and

ce," he said, "and yo

t, without hesitation, stepped in, sinki

ad, he signified to his wife to follow. She clasped Dot a little closer t

it was at the stirrups of the leader. He withdrew his feet and pushed on, the pony cau

, and thought he was going entirely under. But he did not, and, by a quick raising of his feet, the rider

elief beyond words, the rancher reached dry l

le skill on her part, for when she withdrew her foot from her stirrup, and was obliged not only to hold her own poise, but to take care of Dot, her task became delicate and diff

more like this?

whether they can be forded o

n stretched away in an open plain for more than a mile, before breaking into rough, rocky country,

here!" cal

in the air, and her father s

all have to ride for a wh

't what I mean; yonder i

ity to look back over the stream they had just crossed,

of the water. Directly behind him was a second horseman, advancing slowly, and immediately to the rear of him appeared a third, while the head and shoulders of a fourth were ri

ow voice, "ride over the top of

at will

ey me at once o

t pu

e was quick-witted enough to jerk the reins sharply, so that her pony passed out of sight before the pursuers could sus

course of action the momen

y to dispute their crossing. Unless he kept them in check and

a fellow who had visited his home on several occasions, and who was known as Bent Arm,

continued coming into view until five of them were grouped behind the leader. There the

e rancher at bay, called

surrender-w

ender? We are not enemies,

ted Bent Arm; "wan

where you are, and let me

-we talk be

ght, and it looked as if the parley of her husband was meant to give her a chance to get beyond reach. Valuable time

ess; the Sioux were bent on making him and his family prisoners, and little mercy would be shown them. He knew

Arm when his pony began stepping farther into th

reach of any shots that might be sent after him. He wondered a little that the Indians had not announced their presence by a volley that would have brought

ife. "I am going to make a fight with them. Our on

g, and, dropping on his hands and knee