across somebody who knows its owner. The
first thing we have to do is to find that case of liquor."

Half an hour later the teamster came back carrying it, and set it down
before the constable with a grin.

"Guess it's your duty to see what's in these bottles," he remarked.
"Shall I get one out?"

"You needn't; I've a pretty good idea," answered Flett; adding
meaningly, "besides, it's the kind of stuff a white man can't drink."
Then he turned to George. "I'd better take you home. You look kind of
shaky."

"What about my horse?" George asked.

"Guess he's made for home," said the teamster. "I struck his trail,
and it led right out of the woods."

George got into the wagon with some trouble, and the teamster rode
beside it when they set off.

"You haven't much to put before a court," he said to Flett.

"No," the constable replied thoughtfully. "I'm not sure our people
will take this matter up; anyway, it looks as if we could only fix it
on the Indians. This is what comes of you folks fooling things,
instead of leaving them to us."

"The police certainly like a conviction," rejoined the teamster,
grinning. "They feel real bad when the court lets a fellow off; seem
to think that's their business. Guess it's why a few of their
prisoners escape."

Flett ignored this, and the teamster turned to George.

"I'll tell you what once happened to me. I was working for a blamed
hard boss, and it doesn't matter why I quit without getting my wages
out of him, but he wasn't feeling good when I lit out behind a
freight-car. By bad luck, there was a trooper handy when a train-hand
found me at a lonely side-track. Well, that policeman didn't know what
to do with me. It was quite a way to the nearest guard-room; they
don't get medals for corraling a man who's only stolen a ride, and he
had to watch out for some cattle rustlers; so wherever he went I had to
go along with him. We got quite friendly, and one night he said to me,
'There's a freight that stops here nearly due. I'll go to sleep while
you get out on her.'"

The teamster paused and added with a laugh:

"That's what I did, and I'd be mighty glad to set the drinks up if I
ever meet that man off duty. We'd both have a full-size jag on before
we quit."

"And you're one of the fellows who're running Hardie's temperance
campaign!" Flett said dryly.

CHAPTER XI

DIPLOMACY

Flett left the team at George's homestead. Bidding him take good care
o