Part 15 (1/2)

The scout was bound tightly with a lariat which started from his feet and ound and crossed up to his very neck, yptiannot a dozen feet from the fire, which Yellow Elk was in the act of replenishi+ng

As he opened his eyes one of the other Indians, Spotted Nose by name, stopped in front of hiain, but it was too late

”You all right,” cried Spotted Nose, and gave him a sharp kick in the side

”Well I won't be if you keep on kicking h it lanced around and was relieved to see that Nellie was nowhere in sight

Yellow Elk now came up and also kicked the prostrate scout

”You heap dirty dog!” he exclaimed, his face full of bitter hatred ”You shoot me--you die for dat”

”I suppose I will--if you have the saying of that, Yellow Elk But perhaps you won't dare to kill rowled Yellow Elk

”My friends are not far off--they will soon coo hard with you”

At this all of the Indians laughed

”No white uard all tiuard, eh? And yet you didn't see me come in, Dirty Nose?”

”Spotted Nose did see pawnee Broas the answer; but this was a falsehood An Indian hates to admit that he has been in any ood story, Dirty Nose” pawnee Brown turned to Yellow Elk

”Yello did you run across that girl?”

”Yellow Elk no tell his secrets,” came the answer ”pawnee Brown fool to ask pawnee Brown think him heap sly, like fox, but hih, for the Indians from the Indian Territory are not as stolid as were their forefathers, and thoroughly enjoy their own rude

Presently Yellow Elk turned to his companions and spoke to them in an undertone A moment later he sped away, but whether in pursuit of Nellie Winthrop or not, pawnee Brown could not tell

The Indian chief was gone fully an hour, and carave

pawnee Brown had tried in vain to get Spotted Nose and the other Indian to talk--to tell him why they had left the reservation Not one would speak further than to tell hi, Yellow Elk at once set to work to rig up an upright pole fro a heavy tree branch for the purpose The upright was placed close to where the se cracks in the ceiling, and the boos witha fire-stake, such as they had used in the hen some victim was to be roasted alive!

”Heavens! can that be meant for me?” was the question he asked himself

The stake planted and fastened firmly, Yellow Elk heaped some fresh, dry brush around its bottom and then came up to pawnee Brown

”pawnee Brown see the fire-stake?” he asked, his savage eyes glea like two stars

”I do, Yellow Who is it for?”

”Why does pawnee Brown ask? Does he not deserve death?”