started from his feet and was wound and crossed up to his very neck, making body, legs and arms as stiff as those of an Egyptian mummy. He lay on the cave flooring not a dozen feet from the fire, which Yellow Elk was in the act of replenishing.
As he opened his eyes one of the other Indians, Spotted Nose by name, stopped in front of him. The scout instantly closed his eyes again, but it was too late.
"You all right," cried Spotted Nose, and gave him a sharp kick in the side.
"Well I won't be if you keep on kicking me," replied the boomer, as cheerfully as he could, although it must be admitted he was much disturbed. He glanced around and was relieved to see that Nellie was nowhere in sight.
Yellow Elk now came up and also kicked the prostrate scout.
"You heap dirty dog!" he exclaimed, his face full of bitter hatred. "You shoot me—you die for dat."
"I suppose I will—if you have the saying of that, Yellow Elk. But perhaps you won't dare to kill me."
"Why not Indian dare? Indian dare anything," growled Yellow Elk.
"My friends are not far off—they will soon come
