Dick nodded in reply, but did not speak, for at that moment his eye was fixed on a small creek ahead which they must necessarily leap or dash across.  It was lined with clumps of scattered shrubbery, and he glanced rapidly for the most suitable place to pass.  Joe and Henri did the same, and having diverged a little to the different points chosen, they dashed through the shrubbery and were hid from each other’s view.  On approaching the edge of the stream, Dick found to his consternation that the bank was twenty feet high opposite him, and too wide for any horse to clear.  Wheeling aside without checking speed, at the risk of throwing his steed, he rode along the margin of the stream for a few hundred yards until he found a ford—­at least such a spot as might be cleared by a bold leap.  The temporary check, however, had enabled an Indian to gain so close upon his heels that his exulting yell sounded close in his ear.

With a vigorous bound his gallant little horse went over.  Crusoe could not take it, but he rushed down the one bank and up the other, so that he only lost a few yards.  These few yards, however, were sufficient to bring the Indian close upon him as he cleared the stream at full gallop.  The savage whirled his lasso swiftly round for a second, and in another moment Crusoe uttered a tremendous roar as he was tripped up violently on the plain.

Dick heard the cry of his faithful dog, and turned quickly round, just in time to see him spring at the horse’s throat, and bring both steed and rider down upon him.  Dick’s heart leaped to his throat.  Had a thousand savages been rushing on him he would have flown to the rescue of his favourite; but an unexpected obstacle came in the way.  His fiery little steed, excited by the headlong race and the howls of the Indians, had taken the bit in his teeth and was now unmanageable.  Dick tore at the reins like a maniac, and in the height of his frenzy even raised the butt of his rifle with the intent to strike the poor horse to the earth, but his better nature prevailed.  He checked the uplifted hand, and with, a groan dropped the reins, and sank almost helplessly forward on the saddle; for several of the Indians had left the main body and were pursuing him alone, so that there would have been now no chance of his reaching the place where Crusoe fell, even if he could have turned his horse.

Spiritless, and utterly indifferent to what his fate might be, Dick Varley rode along with his head drooping, and keeping his seat almost mechanically, while the mettlesome little steed flew on over wave and hollow.  Gradually he awakened from this state of despair to a sense of danger.  Glancing round he observed that the Indians were now far behind him, though still pursuing.  He also observed that his companions were galloping miles away on the horizon to the left, and that he had foolishly allowed the savages to get between him and them.  The only chance that remained for him was to outride his pursuers, and circle round towards his comrades, and this he hoped to accomplish, for his little horse had now proved itself to be superior to those of the Indians, and there was good running in him still.