. He was a powerful, wiry Indian, in
middle life, who had long been detested by the ranchmen for his thievish
and brutal propensities. He had stolen hundreds of cattle, not to
mention horses, and though often pursued, and driven more than once into
dangerous quarters, he had managed in some way to pull through to the
present time.

"If he should get inside," said the captain slyly, "and you should get
the drop on him, wife, I advise that you don't let him walk out of the
door unharmed."

"That depends on circumstances," quietly replied his better half; "if he
should appeal to me, and he had done no particular harm, I could hardly
refuse him. However, I don't think if he does enter it will be through
the scuttle."

"The next time it will be best to turn him over to the mercies of
Dinah."

"I am afraid it will go ill with him if I do. I heard her say to
herself, when she went upstairs after you, that, on the return trip, she
meant to fall from the round of the ladder upon him: the result would
have been frightful."

"Yes; that red man doesn't know all that he escaped."

The mutterings of Dinah were still audible overhead, and she was seen
the next minute, descending the primitive stairs.

The little party smiled, and the captain turned toward her.

"Well, Dinah, you didn't find much damage done in your room, did you?"

"Humph! 'cause de warmint didn't hab time. I only wish I had a chance to
wrung his neck."

"No doubt you would have done it, but I think we all have cause for
gratitude that things turned out as well as they did."

"I guess you didn't notice dat big hole dey come nigh burning frough de
roof, did you?"

"Oh, yes; I saw it; it would have been much worse but for you; I hope
the fire didn't injure your shoe."

She turned her foot and looked at the broad sole of the heavy shoe, as
though the thought had not occurred to her before.

"It am scorchified a little," she said.

"Never mind," remarked Ballyhoo gravely; "I'll give out a contract for a
new pair for you, when we get into Kansas, and send a couple of the boys
back with them, if they don't prove too big a load."

"I consider such remarks as onnecessary and slightsome," replied Dinah,
with a scornful toss of her head; "I wore number 'lebens, which am just
a lady's size; I reckons you can't do much better dan dat."

"If my feet keep on growing for a few years, I may get there in time,
but you shall have the shoes, Dinah, if the right siz