and the fact that the belligerent
Zeke and the Navajo were also likely to arrive at about the same time,
convinced the boys that some exciting scenes were to be witnessed.

As yet it was manifest that neither party of approaching men had become
aware of the coming of the others.

"There they go!" exclaimed George excitedly when Zeke and his companion
disappeared from sight. "Maybe they won't be back here until after the
other fellows have left."

"Don't you worry," spoke up Fred. "The other fellows aren't going to leave
and that's the worst of it. What shall we do?"

"We shan't do anything until we have to," said Grant. "It will be money
in our pockets to keep silent in seven languages."

"There they are now!" exclaimed Fred in a low voice as the two white men
approached the camping place.

"We're hungry," explained the man with the scar. "Give us something to
eat."

"You haven't eaten all there was in that pack already, have you?" demanded
Fred.

"What are you talking about? What pack do you mean? We haven't got any
pack," replied the visitor.

"You haven't now. What did you do with it?"

"You'll have to explain what you mean. You 're talking in riddles, as the
poet says," sneered the stranger. "All we want is something to eat and I'm
thinking you'll cook it for us pretty quick."

"I understand it's the law of the desert," spoke up Grant, "that any one
who comes into your camp has to be fed."

"Sure it is," said the man glibly.

"But there isn't anything in that law," continued Grant, "which says what
kind of stuff we've got to feed you. My advice to you is to keep right on
your way and not stop here."

"That's just what we're not going to do," laughed the other man loudly.
"We're hungry and you're going to feed us."

"Is that so?" retorted Fred. "Perhaps you'll tell us when we're going to
get the meal."

"You 're going to get it now and there isn't going to be any fooling about
it either."

"Do you want your ice cream before your dinner or after?" inquired Fred
mockingly. "How about your coffee?" he added. "Will you have a demitasse
or a bowl?"

For a moment the man stared blankly at Fred and then apparently convinced
that his demand was not to be complied with he advanced savagely upon the
Go Ahead Boy as he said, "We don't want no more fooling. You get us
something to eat."

At that moment Grant nodded positively to Fred, an action which was not
seen by their visitors. Puzzled by the direc