I am convinced that she would die first."
"But what are we going to do about her?" asked Stella. "We can't let her
remain where she is."
"Where is she?" he asked whimsically.
"Where is she?" Stella repeated the question excitedly. "Do you suppose
that I would be here if I knew. I don't know where she is, but I'm going
to find out."
"Not to-night, Stella, surely."
"Yes, to-night. Right now."
"But----"
"There's no buts in this at all. Who wants to help me find Singing
Bird?"
Every fellow in the outfit stepped forward.
"Well, I guess that's enough," she said, laughing. "But, I want you and
Kit. The others can stay behind and 'tend the herd. We'll be back when
we return." She waved a merry hand to the others, and the three strode
into the woods, Bud bending eagerly forward to find the trail.
Presently Bud struck a moccasin trail, and they followed it until it
mingled with another.
The first was undoubtedly that of Singing Bird. The other was that of a
big man, or of a man with a big foot.
"I reckon she come out here ter find her mother's grave, an' met up with
ther bully, her husband. Here they seem ter hev had a struggle, and then
thar is only one track, but deeper, showin' that he was carryin' weight.
I reckon he put his hand over her mouth an' carried her off by main
strength.
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