IX. THE STEAM MAN AS A HUNTER.

AT this the that the Indians were again around them. Johnny's was to the wide open, the of the night by a hideous, screech.

Then, on the steam, the man a forward, and the next moment was over the like a of darkness, its almost one yell, such as no American Indian has been able to imitate.

When they had gone a hundred yards, Johnny again the speed, for there was great in going at this rate, where all was entire blank darkness, and there was no telling into what they might run. At the speed at which they were going they would have into a river they have themselves.

'Yer one thing,' said Baldy, when they had their gait, and were using great caution.

'What is that?'

'Yer had a lamp in front, so we travel at night, as well as day.'

'You are right; I don't see how I came to that. We have the Indians more completely, and there would have been some in traveling at such a time.'

'Is it too late yet?'

'Couldn't do it without going to St. Louis.'

'Thunderation! I didn't that. Go ahead.'

'Such a lamp or head-light as the use would cost hundred dollars, although I have one nearly as good for much less. Such a thing in the center of a man's forehead, and the at the end of his nose, would give him an appearance.'

'Yer must do it, too, some day My God!'

The boy their progress, as the his exclamation; but as it was done, it was none too soon, for another long step and the steam man would have gone an embankment, twenty high, into a river at the base. As it was, a to the ground, and ran to the to see there was not of his going down.

But he firm.

'I that was a narrow escape!' the boy as he the darkness, looking in the of the night.

'Skulp me if that wouldn't have been almost as as among the red-skins,' the trapper. 'How are we goin' to him out of this?'

'We've got to him ourselves.'

'Can't we him?'

'No; he isn't up on that principle.'

By great labor they managed to make him a steps, so that he be to to the vicinity, and once more started upon the prairie.

'Do you these Indians are us?' the boy.

'No of it.'

'Then we may as well here.'

The were again, right, and the two themselves again for the night in slumber.

No occurred, and slept Roundly until daylight. The trapper's upon was to the in every direction in of danger.

He was not a little to see a dozen or so Indians about a third of a mile to the west. They had up on the plain, and were the object, with a great of wonder, mixed with some fear.

'Do you think they will attack us?' the boy, who not his at the of the savages, on their gayly-caparisoned horses, up in such array.

'Ef any of that, we stop 'em by 'tacking 'em.

'Jest fire up and start toward 'em, and see how quick they will scatter.' The was upon on the instant, although it was with no little on the part of the engineer.

All the time that the 'firingup' was under way the sat as as upon their horses. Had they the nature of the 'animal,' it cannot be that they would for a moment to upon it and it entirely.

But it was a incognita, with a terror such as no of: wear, and they to keep at a from it.

'Now, they do not run?' Johnny, doubtingly, as he to start ahead or not.

'What if they don't? Can't we another way? But needn't fear. Jist try it on.'

Steam was let on as as possible, and the quickly, it was soon over the at a rate, toward the savages.

The a moments, they that it was after them, and then, about, they ran as though all the of were after them.

'Shall I keep it up?' Johnny in the ear of the hunter.

'Yas; give 'em such a that they won't be able to over it ag'in in all lives.'

There is some fun in a foe, when you know that he is of you, and will keep without any of at bay, and the put the steam man to the very of speed that was safe, at the of the out.

The was and nearer level than any over which they had passed since starting, so that nothing was in the way of the of sport.

'Are we gaining?' Johnny, his with excitement.

'Gaining? Thar was a red-skin that had such a in all the world. Ef they don't out the way soon, we'll over 'em all.'

They were, in truth, the red-skins, who were about as much as it was possible for a to be, and still live.

To their fears, the boy up a of his whistle. If there had been any other or means at his command, it is possible the red-skins would have off their and died; for they were almost all the fright, terror and that can possibly be into a single person.

Finding there was no by means of the speed of their horses, the Indians did what the had they would do at first.

They 'scattered,' all over the prairie. As it was for the steam man to overtake all of these, of course, this the safety of the majority.

Neither Baldy the boy were to give up the sport in this manner; so, they out a single 'noble red-man,' who was nearly the same direction as they were, and they for him.

The wretch, when he saw that he was the object of the monster's pursuit, to with terror. Rising on his horse's back, he until it looked as though there was of going over his altogether. Then, and to his horse, that was already every nerve, he his in its sides, it to still speed.

In the time, the steam man was upon him, while to add to the scene, Johnny up the of the nose-whistle of the giant. It was difficult to tell which the most in this chase.

The Indians had their to the utmost. Fearful that their enemy might its mind and single them out, they up their light, all of the great to which their was reduced, until they in the distance.

A only and pursued, when the latter, that there was no in flight, toward the river, which was a on the right.

This saved him. When with a bowl, and over the bank and disappeared, the steam man not him. He was to give up the and off. A days later, and without incident, the steam man Wolf Ravine, being in the manner at the of this story.