ng, more sneezing and more strangling. The Professor laid
the boy on the grass a little distance from the table, where not a
smile had appeared on a single face. The Indians were grave and
solemn, the Pony Rider Boys likewise, although almost at the
explosive point. The others had merely passed the Pipe of peace
across their lips and handed it on to the next. In this manner it had
gone around the circle.

Then all hands began dipping into the meat with their fingers. This
was too much for the red-faced boy lying on the grass. He sat up,
uttered a volley of sneezes then unsteadily made his way back to the
blanket table and sat down in his place. The Indians paid no
attention to him, though sly glances were cast in his direction by
his companions. For once, Ned Rector was discreet enough not to make
any remarks. He knew that any such would call forth unpleasant words
from Stacy.

The fat boy helped himself liberally to the meat. He tasted of it
gingerly at first, then went at it greedily.

"That is the finest beef I ever ate," he said enthusiastically.

"You shouldn't make remarks about the food," whispered Tad. "They may
not like it."

"I hope they don't like it. There'll be all the more left for me."

"I don't mean the food, I mean your remarks about it."

"Oh!"

"How many persons are there in your tribe, chief?" asked the Professor
politely.

The chief looked at Dad.

"Two hundred and fifty, Professor," the guide made answer for their host.
"They are a fine lot of Indians, too."

"Including the squaws, two hundred and fifty?"

"Yes."

"Do they not sit down with us?" asked Professor Zepplin, glancing up
at Chi-i-wa and some of her sisters, who were standing muffled in their
blankets, despite the heat of the day, gazing listlessly at the diners.

"Certainly not in the presence of the white man or heads of other
tribes," answered Jim.

"Say, what is this meat?" whispered Chunky again, helping himself to
another slice.

"Don't you know what that is?" answered Ned Rector.

"No. If I did, I shouldn't have asked."

"Why, that's lion meat."

"Li---li---lion meat?" gasped the boy.

"Sure thing."

Stacy appeared to suffer a sudden loss of appetite. He grew pale about
the lips, his head whirled dizzily. Whether it were from the pipe of
peace or the meat, he never knew. He did know that he was a sick boy
almost on the instant. With a moan he toppled over on his back.

"I'm going to d