"Now I can follow even if the others can't," said the scout. "Rasco, it's a pity you haven't a mount. It is no more than right that you should follow up your niece. If you insist upon it I'll let you have Bonnie Bird. I wonder if Nellie or the redskin had her?"
"I won't take yer horse, Pawnee—it's askin' too much," answered Rasco. "Supposin' we both mount her? If Bonnie Bird got away from Yellow Elk it's more'n likely one of the other hosses got away, too."
"That's so. Well, get up, Jack, and let us lose no time."
Soon both men were mounted. A few words all around followed, and it was agreed that Dick and Gilbert should try to hunt up Clemmer and the others, and then away went Pawnee Brown and Rasco upon Yellow Elk's trail.
Suddenly Jack Rasco uttered a cry.
"See, Pawnee, here's whar another of the hosses got away. Hang me if I don't think it war my hoss, too!"
"Yes, and here is where the horse dropped into a walk," he answered. "I don't believe he can be far off."
Without delay Rasco slid to the ground.
"I'll follow him up afoot," he declared. "I'm fresh and can run it putty good. You go ahead with the regular trail."
The trail left by Yellow Elk ran down along the edge of the stream for a distance of perhaps a hundred yards, then it came out on a series of flat rocks and was lost to view.