CHAPTER PAGE PREFACE v I THE YOUNG EXPLORERS 1 II SAVED BY A JACK-RABBIT 11 III THE TERROR OF THE MOUNTAINS 22 IV BAD NEWS 32 V READY FOR A FRESH START 43 VI ON THE TRAIL TO THE BAD LANDS 54 VII THE STRANGE AWAKENING 65 VIII THE VALLEY OF ENCHANTMENT 76 IX SURROUNDED BY MYSTERIES 86 X ATTACKED BY HOSTILE BLACKFEET 97 XI ON THE BANK OF THE YELLOWSTONE 107 XII UNEXPECTED HELP 117 XIII DEEPER INTO THE WONDERLAND 127 XIV THE LANDSLIDE 138 XV SHELTER FROM THE BITING NORTH WIND 148 XVI THE BATTLE IN THE CAVE 159 XVII THANKS TO THE WOLF PACK 170 XVIII THE GIANT PAINT POT 180 XIX A SUDDEN PERIL 190 XX PRISONERS OF THE BLACKFEET 201 XXI BINDING UP AN ENEMY'S WOUNDS 211 XXII IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT 223 XXIII THE ESCAPE 231 XXIV AN INDIAN'S GRATITUDE 241 XXV THE SNOW AVALANCHE 253 XXVI TRACKING A BUFFALO 261 XXVII FIRE FANCIES 271 XXVIII WITH HOPEFUL HEARTS 282 XXIX THE HUNTERS' FEAST 293 XXX ALLIES WITH COPPER-COLORED SKINS 303 XXXI THE CAMP ON THE BIG WATER 314 XXXII A WELL WON VICTORY--CONCLUSION 325 NOTES 335 [Illustration] [Illustration] LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE "SOME OF THE BRAVES STARTED TO FASTEN THE PRISONERS TO TWO TREES" (_See page 219_) _Frontispiece_ "HIS TREMBLING FINGER SUDDENLY PRESSED THE TRIGGER" 23 "MEAGER THOUGH THAT SUPPER MAY HAVE BEEN, THERE WAS NOT A WORD OF COMPLAINT" 68 "BEFORE THEM THEY SAW A MIGHTY COLUMN OF STEAMING WATER" 126 "TURNING AROUND FROM TIME TO TIME AS THOUGH HALF INCLINED TO COME BACK" 175 "THE BUFFALO WAS JUST IN THE ACT OF TURNING WHEN THE FRONTIERSMAN FIRED" 294 [Illustration] The Pioneer Boys of the Yellowstone CHAPTER I THE YOUNG EXPLORERS "I THINK we have gone far enough from the camp, Roger." "Just as you say, Dick. I never seem to know when to stop, once I get started."