Part 22 (2/2)

”And here's a bite for yer,” added Cle out sory ere the sun coain”

In aaway dick watched the position on a flat rock in the centre of a cluly He was not used to this sort of thing How different the prairies and woods were to the city streets and buildings

”Lonesome isn't a name for it,” he antic Greenwood, only there aren't any monuments What is that?”

There was a flutter and a whirl, and dick grasped his pistol tighter It was only a night-bird, starting up now that the sun was beginning to set

Soon the woods and the prairies began to grow dark The sun was lost to view behind tall trees which cast shadows of incalculable length It grew colder, too, and he buttoned his light coat tightly about hian to eat some of the food left behind by Cle, and in the city dickbetter But just then it tasted ”just boss,” to use dick's oords A bracing air and hunger are the best sauces in the world

An hour had gone by, and all was dark, when dick started up from a reverie into which he had fallen What was that which had reached his ears fro of the rising wind?

He listened No, it was not the wind--it was a cry--a girl's voice--the voice of Nellie Winthrop!

”It is Nellie!” caain came the cry, but this time more faintly

From what direction had that cry for help proceeded? In vain the boy asked himself that question He was not used to a life in the open and the rising as very deceptive

”Ifrom the rocks ”I shan't remain here while she is in trouble”

He had no horse theunable to provide hiether, but for this he did not care He was resolved to aid the girl if such a thing were possible

Away he went over the prairie at a rapid gait, in the direction froined the cry had proceeded Two hundred yards were covered and he came to a halt and listened Not a sound broke the stillness, although he fancied he heard the hoof-strokes of a horse at a great distance

Then he turned in another direction, and then another It was all to no purpose No trace of the girl could be found He gave a groan

”It's no use; she's gone and that is all there is to it Poor girl!”

With a sinking heart he set off to return to the spot from whence he had come He advanced a dozen steps, then halted and stared about him

Suddenly an awful truth burst upon hi the brush!+

CHAPTER XIX

NELLIE MEETS VORLANGE

What had that awful cry heard by dick o back to the time when Nellie Winthrop started to escape from the cave in the cliff