"A good idea--I will. Now let me carry you again, I see you can hardly stand on that foot." For Nellie had limped along a dozen steps in great pain.
"But I am so heavy, d.i.c.k----"
"Never mind, I can carry you a little distance, at least."
"You had better save yourself and let me go."
"What! Nellie, do you think me so selfish? Never! Come, and we"ll escape or die in the attempt."
And catching her up as before, he started off on as rapid a gait as the weight of his fair burden would permit.
A distance of a hundred yards had been covered and d.i.c.k found himself ascending a slight hill. The climb was by no means easy, yet he kept on manfully, knowing what capture by Yellow Elk might mean.
"He would tomahawk me and carry Nellie off," he thought, and it would be hard to say which he thought the worst, the tomahawking or the carrying off of the girl for whom he entertained such a high regard.
The top of the hill reached, they saw before them a broad stretch of open prairie, flanked to the north and the south by the woods from which they had just emerged.
"I"ll be thrashed if I know where we are," he said. "Have you any idea?"
"No, d.i.c.k, I am completely bewildered."
"I wonder if it is safe to attempt to cross this prairie? It is pretty dark, but that redskin has mighty sharp eyes."
"Let us go down to the edge of the woods first and rest a bit. I am sure you are pretty well out of breath, and if I can bathe my ankle in some cold water perhaps I"ll be able to walk on it before long."
"Don"t try it, Nellie; I"ll carry you," and again the youth picked her up.
It was not long before they reached a convenient hollow, where there was a small pool. Here Nellie made herself comfortable and took off the shoe which hurt her so much. Bathed, the ankle which had been twisted felt much better. It was still, however, much swollen, and to walk far on that foot was as yet out of the question.
An hour went by, a quiet hour, in which only the cries of the night birds and the occasional hoot of an owl disturbed them. They conversed in whispers and d.i.c.k"s ears were ever on the alert, for he felt certain that Vorlange or Yellow Elk would sooner or later continue the search for them.
Nellie was very sleepy and at last her eyes closed and she dropped into a slumber upon d.i.c.k"s shoulder, forming such a pretty picture the youth could do nothing but admire her. "I"ll save her--I must do it!" he murmured, and kissed her wavy tresses softly.
It wanted still two hours to sunrise when he awakened her. She leaped up with a start.
"I have been asleep! Oh, d.i.c.k, why did you let me drop off?"
"I knew how tired you must be after going through all you did. But we must be on our way now, before it grows lighter. How is the foot?"
"It is stiff, but much better. Which way shall we go?"
"Let us strike across the prairie and to the north. That is bound to bring us into Kansas sooner or later, and once there we"ll be sure to locate the boomers without much trouble."
Both were hungry, but, as there was no food at hand, neither said a word on that point. Getting a drink at a running brook close by, they started off, d.i.c.k holding Nellie"s hand, that she might not go down on the ankle that was still weak.
Only a corner of the broad prairie pa.s.sed, and then they turned again into a woods. The sun was now up and it was growing warmer.
"I"ll shoot a few birds if I can"t find anything else," said d.i.c.k. "We can"t starve, and birds broiled over a fire will make a fair meal."
"But the noise?" began Nellie.
"I know; but, as I said, we can"t starve, Nellie. We"ll have to take the risk. Here goes!"
d.i.c.k crept forward to where half a dozen birds sat on a nearby bush. The birds were in a flutter over something, but d.i.c.k did not notice this.
Bringing two of the birds into range for a single shot, he blazed away with his pistol.
The sharp crack of the firearm was still echoing through the woods when there came a roar from behind the bushes the birds had occupied. d.i.c.k had brought down his game and more, he had struck a bear in the shoulder. In another moment the huge beast leaped into sight, and with angry eyes and gleaming teeth bore straight for the astonished boy.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE SOLDIERS AGAIN.
Never was d.i.c.k Arbuckle more astonished than when the big bear leaped out from behind the bushes and confronted himself and Nellie Winthrop.
"Oh, d.i.c.k! a bear!" screamed the girl, and stood still, too paralyzed with fright to move.
As we know, d.i.c.k had just brought down several birds with his pistol--indeed it was this very shot which had clipped the bear--and now the weapon was empty and useless, having had but one chamber loaded.
But as the great beast came forward, d.i.c.k knew enough not to stand still. He retreated in double-quick order, and forced Nellie to accompany him. Away they went through the woods with the bear in close pursuit.
At the start of the chase girl and boy were at least forty feet in advance, but despite his bulk the bear made rapid progress, and slowly but surely began to lessen the distance between himself and those he sought to make his victims. Looking over his shoulder, d.i.c.k saw him lumbering along, his mouth wide open and his blood-red tongue hanging out as though ready to lick him in.
"I--I--can"t run any more," gasped Nellie. Her heart was beating as though ready to break. "Oh, d.i.c.k, what shall we do?"
"Here is a tree with low branches--jump for that--I will help you up!"
returned the youth, and in a few seconds they were in the tree, a scrub oak, with the big bear underneath, eying them angrily, and speculating upon how he could bring them down within reach of his powerful embrace and his hungry maw.
"He is going to climb up," came from Nellie"s lips a few seconds later.
She was right. Bruin had attacked the tree trunk and now he was coming up slowly, as though afraid of moving into some trap.
d.i.c.k did not answer, for talking would have done no good. He was re-loading the pistol with all possible speed.
Crack! d.i.c.k had leaned down through the branches of the oak and taken aim at one of those bloodshot eyes. There was a howl and a roar, and the bear fell down with a crash that shook the forest. As to whether the bullet had found that eye or not d.i.c.k could not tell, but certain it was that once on the ground the bear picked himself up in short order and started to run away.
"You hit him!" cried Nellie. "Oh, d.i.c.k, if only he don"t come back!"
"He"s not going away--very far," answered the boy. The shot had encouraged him and his blood was up. A moment later Nellie was horrified to behold him drop to the gra.s.s and make off after the beast.
"That bear will kill him sure!" she e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. "Oh, d.i.c.k, come back!
please do!" she screamed.
A shot answered her, a shot which was quickly followed by another. A minute of painful silence; then suddenly the bear staggered into view with d.i.c.k at his heels.
"I"ve nailed him!" shouted the boy, joyfully, and another shot did the work. With a groan the bear keeled over, gave a jerk or two, and died.