Part 27 (2/2)

”Whitefool!” he hissed ”Yellow Elk not make chase for hio after the boy and the girl?” queried Vorlange

”No--white ain”

And having thus delivered hie another step

The Indian's objections to continuing the search were more numerous than appeared on the surface The so-called insult, bad as it as merely an excuse to hide other e for years and as the spy was naturally a ly

Another reason for refusing to go ahead was that Yellow Elk knew only too well that if dick and Nellie were again taken, Vorlange would consider both his own captives, and Yellow Elk would be ”counted out” of the entire proceedings He could not go to the agency and claih he had told Vorlange he ay on a special mission connected with the soldiers

And deeper than all was the thought that if he did not capture Nellie now, he ht do so later on, when he had separated froirl he had been covetous ofher his squaw Indian fashi+on, he felt he could compel Nellie to choose hi the choice

”You won't go on with the search?” cried Vorlange, in a rage

”No,” was the short answer

”I say you shall! See here, Yellow Elk, do you want to be shot?”

”Yellow Elk not afraid of Vorlange--Vorlange know dat Yellow Elk go back to cabin to see if girl or boy leave anything behind”

Then he got up, waded across the brook again and disappeared ae ry tone Then, torch in hand, he started up the brook bank to follow the trail alone

dick and Nellie listened to the quarrel with bated breath Both hoped that Vorlange would follow to the cabin When he approached closer than ever, their hearts see that a contest was at hand, dick groped around in the darkness for soed stone weighing all of a pound He took it up and held it in readiness

Closer and closer caht and now to the left, for following the trail aht as well give yourselves up!” he called out ”I am bound to spot you sooner or later”

To this neither offered any reply, but dick felt Nellie shi+ver They could now see the flare of the torch plainly, for Vorlange was less than thirty feet away

Presently the spy uttered a low cry of pleasure He had found several footprints, where dick had slipped fro the torch above his head that it reater distance

[Illustration: ”dick had let fly the jagged stone, taking hi hiht sight of Nellie's dress ”I told you I would catch you It's not such an easy e The next tiroan escaped the spy dick had let fly the jagged stone, taking hi him over like a tenpin The blow left a deep cut froe was completely stunned

”Oh, dick, have you--you--killed hiuess not, Nellie; he's stunned, that's all Coes his ested the quick-witted girl