He brought his field-glasses to a focus.
"White men," he announced, shortly.

"Come with me." At a brisk trot they rode out, the trooper lagging a pace to the rear, the watchful eyes of both men sweeping suspiciously across the prairie.
The two parties met suddenly upon the summit of a sharp ridge, and Brant drew in his horse with an exclamation of astonishment.

It was a pathetic spectacle he stared at,--a horse scarcely able to stagger forward, his flanks quivering from exhaustion, his head hanging limply down; on his back, with feet strapped securely beneath and hands bound to the high pommel, the lips grinning ferociously, perched a misshapen creature clothed as a man.

Beside these, hatless, his shoes barely holding together, a man of slender figure and sunburnt face held the bridle-rein.

An instant they gazed at each other, the young officer's eyes filled with sympathetic horror, the other staring apathetically at his rescuer.
"My God! Can this be you, Hampton ?" and the startled lieutenant flung himself from his horse.