lainly discerned by the Indian, who, turning his black,
serpent-like eyes upon him, said, without a tremor in his voice:

"Me good Injin; me friend of white man; me no hurt him."

"It doesn't look as if you would; but what is your business? Why do you
steal into our camp like a thief of the night?"

"Me hungry--want somethin' eat."

This was too transparent a subterfuge to deceive one even so
unaccustomed to life in these solitudes as Jack Dudley. An Indian
wandering through a country so well stocked with game as this portion of
the new State of Wyoming never suffers for food; and, were such a thing
possible, the present means was the last that he would adopt to procure
it.

"If you want something to eat, why did you not come forward openly and
ask for it?"

The fellow did not seem fully to grasp the question, but he repeated:

"Me hungry."

Jack recalled that there was not a mouthful of food in camp. Had there
been, he probably would have invited the visitor to walk to the fire and
partake. It was fortunate for the youth that their larder was empty, for
had the two started among the trees in the direction of the camp, the
opportunity for which the Indian was doubtless waiting would have been
secured. There would have been an interval in the brief walk when the
advantage would have been shifted to him, and he would have seized it
with the quickness of lightning.

The manifest duty of Jack was to shout to Hank Hazletine and bring him
to the spot. He would read the truth on the instant and do the right
thing; but the situation, as the reader will admit, was peculiar, and
the motive which prevented the youth from adopting this line of action
was creditable to him. He believed that the moment the guide appeared he
would shoot the intruder, and that was too frightful an issue for Jack
to contemplate. He did not want this warrior's life, and would not take
it except to save his own or that of his friends.

Jack believed that enough had been gained in thoroughly frightening the
Indian, and the thing desired now was to get rid of him with the least
possible delay. He did not think he would intrude again, even if he had
companions within call.

"We have no food; we can give you nothing; you must go elsewhere."

"Then me go;" and, as if the business was concluded, the buck turned
about and began walking toward the edge of the grove. Yielding to a whim
which he did not fully understand, Jack Dudley followed him with