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I've heard yer father go on in his sleep, and war talkin' ter Pawnee Brown about it. An' Pawnee knows this air Vorlange. The two air enemies from school days. Pawnee said Vorlange wasn't squar nohow!" "He is evidently in the employ of the government." "Yes; a land-office spy, now workin' ag'in the boomers fer the cavalry as intends ter keep us out of Oklahoma."
The manner of the government spy provoked the Indian. To be called a block of wood is, to the red man, a direct insult. Yellow Elk straightened up. "White man big fool!" he hissed. "Yellow Elk not make chase for him," and he folded his arms. "You won't go after the boy and the girl?" queried Vorlange. "No white man hunt for himself if he want to catch the little woman again."
The western idea of shooting had not yet entered his mind, but woe to Louis Vorlange if his villainy was once unmasked. "Do not worry about me, father," said Dick taking his departure. "I will take care of myself, and I am sure that either Pawnee Brown, Jack Rasco or myself can get on the track of the rascal who robbed and struck you down." "Be cautious, Dick," murmured the sick man.
"Can he be up here?" Vorlange started. "I I think not. "He's a slick one, Vorlange; remember that." "I know it, but some men are slicker. Wait until this boom is busted and you'll never hear of Pawnee Brown again." So the talk ran on. Rasco listened with much interest, forgetting the fact that he had promised to follow Pawnee Brown as soon as the stray-away horse was secured.
The man's words were fair enough, but Nellie did not like his manner at all, so she turned upon him coldly. "And what is your name, and who are you?" "I am not here to answer questions, miss. I am a government official, let that be enough for you to know." As he spoke Louis Vorlange caught Nellie by the arm.
"Can thet be Pawnee shootin', or is it Dick an' the others?" He secured the horse and began to ascend out of the ravine, when a murmur of voices broke upon his ears. One of the voices sounded familiar and he soon recognized it as that of Louis Vorlange.
"I I just escaped from an Indian who carried me off from Arkansas City," answered Nellie. "An Indian! Who was it, do you know?" "A fellow named Yellow Elk." Vorlange uttered a low whistle. "Where is he now?" he questioned. "I left him back in yonder hills, in a cave." Again the spy uttered a whistle, but whether of surprise or dismay Nellie could not tell. "Were you alone with Yellow Elk?"
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.
"It is none of your business, Rasco," muttered the spy. "I told the boy; that's enough." Dick breathed hard. Part of that mystery of the past was out at last. His father was accused of murder Vorlange held the evidence against him. Like a flash came back to him several things he had almost forgotten.
Three additional cavalrymen were approaching from the thicket. "Here's a horse tied up!" cried one. "Boys, whose animal is this?" The call instantly attracted the attention of Vorlange and his companions. They turned toward the speaker, and now there remained nothing for Rasco to do but to run for it, and this he did at the top of his speed.
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