Much as the warriors were disappointed, they were not the ones to allow the brave fellow to be killed without an effort on their part to save him. Warren had suspected the truth, and, while seeming to be unaware of it, he observed several of the warriors running at full speed from the ridge out on the snowy prairie. They were still a goodly distance away, and he calculated just how far it was prudent to allow them to approach before appealing to Jack, standing within a few paces and awaiting his pleasure. He was hoping for just such a warning from Starcus as he had received. He wanted it as a "guarantee of good faith," and when it came all doubts of the sincerity of his repentance were gone. Still, although this particular Sioux might feel gratitude for the undeserved mercy shown to him, there was no hope of anything of that nature from his companions. Had Warren counted upon that, he would have made the mistake of his life. He and his friend had done the bucks too much ill to be forgiven for an act of kindness to one of their number, even though it was actuated by a motive whose nobility they could not fail to understand. "That is kind of you, to warn me of my danger," remarked the youth. "I shall not forget it. But they are so far off that I need not hurry to mount my horse." "Do not wait too long; they will soon be here." "I have my pony, and they are on foot." "But they can run fast." "I will leave in time; but, Starcus, if you are really a friend of mine, you have the chance to prove it by being a friend of Tim; he is a prisoner with your people, and in need of your good offices." "I cannot help him," was the reply, accompanied by a shake of the head. "I only ask that you shall do what you can; I am sure you will, whether it results in good to him or not." "Give yourself no hope of that; it will be hard for me to explain why I was spared by you." "But that was my own affair; surely they cannot suspect us of any collusion." "You do not know my people as I do." "But I am not the first white man that has shown mercy to a helpless foe; they know that as well as you and I." "You are waiting too long, Warren; they will soon be here," added the warrior, with an apprehensive glance toward the ridge, from which his people were approaching with alarming swiftness. "Well, good-by, Starcus." He grasped the left hand of the Sioux, who warmly returned the pressure with the words, "Good-by, Warren." Then Warren Starr, not a moment too soon, sprang into the saddle and galloped away. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE LONE HORSEMAN. The young rancher had calculated matters closely, for hardly was he in the saddle when the foremost of the running Sioux halted, raised his gun, and fired. He was nigh enough to make his shot dangerous, though providentially it did no ill.