ains."

"We hate to think of it," said Jim. "Better go with us as far as the
river anyway."

But the captain shook his head.

"No, really Jim, I appreciate you boys' friendship and I like to be with
you, but I am getting too old for this exciting life and I must get back
to my plateau and my books."

"I have given the captain one of my books to read," said Tom.

"Gee," laughed Jim, "I bet the captain will be thrilled when he reads
about the dukes and dukesses and all those high-fliers."

"That will do, Jim," said the captain. "I value the book as a gift from
Tom."

So nothing more was said on that line. We were now fairly launched for
the remainder of our voyage through the mountains and we rode forward in
good spirits.

CHAPTER XI

THE CAPTAIN DEPARTS

We traveled on for a week through the mountains with only the ordinary
incidents of hard riding and quiet camps. We met with no extraordinary
adventures, nor did we meet any wandering bands of Indians.

Although we saw the distant smoke of some large camps we did not seek
any close acquaintance with the Apaches.

"You will find many of the tribes in the southwest rather friendly,"
said the captain, "not like the Apaches, or Cheyennes. Of course you
always have to be on your guard. But if you do not arouse their
suspicions or deal with them unfairly, there is no danger of that, I
know, and you will find them safe."

"What are the names of these Indian tribes in the southwest?" inquired
Jim.

"Well, there are the Navajos, a fine tribe in many ways, with rather
good features, not like the fierce Apaches, much more human. They, too,
are skilled in making blankets, stained natural colors of gray and
brown and red and woven from sheep's wool. They roam above the San Juan.

"On the north below the San Juan are the tribes of Paiutes, while on the
south are the Suppais and Wallapais; in Arizona and lower down come the
Mojaves, Cocopas and Yumas, more worthless and degraded than the
northern tribes.

"The most interesting of all the tribes are the Pueblos who have
villages built in the cliffs or on the great Mesas. These people have a
civilization of their own."

"It certainly will be interesting to see this country," I said.

"To me it is the most marvelous region on this continent," resumed the
captain, "and has a fascination of its own. As you will soon find for
yourselves."

Late one afternoon, we had been riding through a deep canyon and we c