YELLOW ELK.
The writing of the answer to Gilbert's communication had taken several
minutes, and now Yellow Elk was entirely out of sight. But Pawnee Brown
was certain of the trail the Indian had taken, and by a little faster
riding soon brought the rascal again into view.
Yellow Elk was now descending into a valley bound on the north by a
rolling hill and on the south by a cliff varying from twenty to forty
feet in height. Even at a distance Pawnee Brown could see that the
Indian was having considerable trouble with Nellie Winthrop, who felt
now assured that her first suspicions were correct and that Yellow Elk
had taken her far from the boomers' camp.
"I will not go with you!" cried the girl, and did her best to break from
the warrior's grasp. But Yellow Elk's hold was a good one, and she only
succeeded in tearing her dress.
"We be dare in few minutes now," replied the redskin. "Den all be
right--you wait and see."
"I won't go with you--let me down!" screamed Nellie, but he silenced her
by a fierce gesture which made the boomer's blood boil. It was only by
the exercise of all his will power that the great scout kept himself
from shooting down Yellow Elk on the spot.
The end of the long cliff was almost reached when the Indian chief
reined up the mare and sprang to the ground, still holding Nellie tight.
As he held the girl by the wrist with one hand he led Bonnie Bird
forward with the other. In a few seconds, girl, mare and Indian had
disappeared from view in the midst of a thick fringe of bushes.
They had scarcely vanished when Pawnee Brown was on the ground and had
tethered his horse in a little grove of pines a hundred feet away. This
done, he stole forward to what he felt must be the mouth of the cave
Yellow Elk had mentioned.
The great scout knew he was on delicate and dangerous ground. There was
no telling how many Indians beside Yellow Elk there might be in the
vicinity, who had left the reservation without permission; it was likely
all who were there would be in war paint ready to kill him on sight.
"The reds who train with Yellow Elk are not to be trusted," he muttered.
"Yellow Elk wouldn't like anything better than to scalp me just for a
taste of his old blood-thirsty days. Making a 'good Indian' out of such
a fellow is all nonsense--it simply can't be done."
Pawnee Brown had dropped down in the long grass and was now wiggling
along like a snake through the bushes and between the rocks. Soon the
entrance to the cave was gained, hidden by more bushes. He hesitated,
looked to see that his pistol was all right, shoved the bushes aside and
slipped within.
It was so dark inside that for a moment he could distinguish nothing.
But his ears were on the alert and he heard the footsteps of Yellow Elk
resounding at a distance of fully fifty yards. He could hear nothing of
Nellie, and rightfully concluded that the Indian had been compelled to
pick her up and carry her.
An instant later he stumbled close to his mare. Bonnie Bird recognized
him with a snort of joy.
"Sh-sh!" he said softly, and the gentle animal understood and made no
further sound. But she gladly rubbed her soft nose up and down his neck
to signify her pleasure.
"Good Bonnie Bird," he whispered. "I'll be with you soon again," and
went on after Yellow Elk.
The Indian had now come to a halt and was striking a match. Soon some
dry brush was set on fire and the redskin heaped upon it some stout tree
branches, for the air in the cave was chilly.
"Now me and white girl have long talk," said Yellow Elk, as he motioned
Nellie to a seat.
"Where is the boomers' camp?" she faltered, hardly knowing how to answer
him.
"Camp ten miles from here," came the short reply. "You here all alone
with Yellow Elk."
At this the frightened girl gave a scream of terror.
"You base wretch!" she sobbed. "Take me back at once."
"No take back--Yellow Elk no fool. White girl stay here--make Yellow Elk
good squaw, maybe," and he grinned into her pretty face.
But now an interruption came which all but stunned Yellow Elk. Leaping
from his hiding place, Pawnee Brown pounced upon the redskin, caught him
by the throat and hurled him backward and almost into the midst of the
fire!
"You miserable dog!" came from the scout's lips.
"Oh, sir, save me from that Indian!" came from Nellie, as she quickly
turned to the man she felt sure would assist her.
"I will, Miss Winthrop, don't fear," answered Pawnee Brown. "So, Yellow
Elk, we meet again. I reckon you remember the man who kicked you all
around the agency two years ago because you tried to steal his new pair
of boots?"
"Ugh!" grunted Yellow Elk. He had just managed to scramble out of the
fire, and was beating out the flames which had caught on a fringe of his
garments. "Pawnee Brown."
He muttered a fierce imprecation in his native tongue. Then, before
Pawnee Brown could stop him his pistol flashed in the fire-light. He took
aim at the scout's head and fired.
But though the action of the Indian chief was quick, the movement of the
boomer was quicker.
Many times had he been under fire, and he had learned to drop when
occasion required as rapidly as it could be done.
With the pressure upon the pistol trigger he went down like a flash and
the bullet intended for his head merely grazed the top of his hat and
flattened itself upon the cave wall opposite.
"Bah!" hissed Yellow Elk, when he saw how he had missed. He attempted to
take him once more, but now Pawnee Brown hurled himself on the redskin,
turning the barrel of the weapon aside, and both went to the stone
flooring with a crash. Nellie Winthrop let out a shriek of terror.
"Do not let him shoot you! Make him throw the pistol away!" she cried,
as she wrung her hands. She would have liked to assist Pawnee Brown, but
could not see how it could just then be done.