"Dick, I see him!" exclaimed Roger, in fresh excitement; "and, sure enough, he is caught in the branches of that big tree over there. It isn't a trap after all, but some one in trouble." [Illustration: "THEY PUSHED FORWARD, AND WERE SOON AT THE FALLEN TREE"] "And an Indian at that, Roger," added the other, as he, too, managed to catch a glimpse of the unfortunate one. "Will that make any difference; or do you think he may be just shamming?" asked Roger, hesitating. "There is no mistake about his being in a bad fix," ventured Dick. "He may not be terribly hurt, but the tree has pinned him down, you can see; and if we left the poor fellow there he would either starve to death or else be devoured by the wild beasts." "Oh! we never could have the heart to do that," asserted Roger, who possessed a generous nature, like all his headstrong class. They pushed forward, and were soon at the fallen tree. The Indian must have discovered their presence, for he had ceased groaning, as though too proud to show any sign of cowardice. A brave would sooner have his hand cut off than be reckoned timid or weak. "How are we going to get him out of that trap?" Roger remarked, after they had looked the situation over. "We have no hatchet for cutting the limb, and my knife would never do the job in a day." "He's held down as if in a vise," Dick observed thoughtfully, "and I can see only one way of getting him loose. Let me have your knife and I'll hack my way in close to him. There seems to be just one avenue open for that." Roger, filled with curiosity, watched his cousin set to work. He could readily understand how the other intended to reach the side of the imprisoned brave, but just what means he expected to use in order to free the warrior Roger was unable to guess. A short time afterwards Dick had gained the side of the brave, to whom he spoke a few words; and, doubtful whether he was understood, these were supplemented by various reassuring gestures. Then, to the astonishment of Roger, Dick started to dig furiously in the ground. At first his intentions were a mystery to Roger, who wrinkled his brow as he looked on. All at once, however, he grasped the idea. "Now I can see what you're up to, Dick," he called out; "and I must say it looks like a winning scheme. All you have to do is to dig under the brave, and let him sink down a little. Then, when the pressure of those limbs grows less, he can either squirm out himself, or be dragged forth." That, in fact, was the idea Dick had conceived in his fertile brain. He continued to delve away with a steady purpose in view, and presently it could be seen that he was making an impression on the earth. The trapped Indian brave began to sink downward by slow degrees until finally the pressure had relaxed to such an extent that by making a great effort, and assisted by Dick, he managed to wriggle out from under the limbs of the fallen tree.