she's a girl. She won't talk much."

"Where's Nas Ta Bega?" asked Shefford.

"He rode off somewhere yesterday. Perhaps to the Piute camp. These
Indians are slow. They may take a week to pack that load over here. But
if Nas Ta Bega or some one doesn't come with a message to-day I'll ride
over there myself."

"Joe, what do you think about this missionary?" queried Shefford,
bluntly.

"Reckon there's not much to think, unless you see him or find out
something. I heard of Willetts before Withers spoke of him. He's
friendly with Mormons. I understand he's worked for Mormon interests,
someway or other. That's on the quiet. Savvy? This matter of him coming
after Glen Naspa, reckon that's all right. The missionaries all go after
the young people. What'd be the use to try to convert the old Indians?
No, the missionary's work is to educate the Indian, and, of course, the
younger he is the better."

"You approve of the missionary?"

"Shefford, if you understood a Mormon you wouldn't ask that. Did you
ever read or hear of Jacob Hamblin?... Well, he was a Mormon missionary
among the Navajos. The Navajos were as fierce as Apaches till Hamblin
worked among them. He made them friendly to the white man."

"That doesn't prove he made converts of them," replied Shefford, still
bluntly.

"No. For the matter of that, Hamblin let religion alone. He made
presents, then traded with them, then taught them useful knowledge.
Mormon or not, Shefford, I'll admit this: a good man, strong with
his body, and learned in ways with his hands, with some knowledge of
medicine, can better the condition of these Indians. But just as soon
as he begins to preach his religion, then his influence wanes. That's
natural. These heathen have their ideals, their gods."

"Which the white man should leave them!" replied Shefford, feelingly.

"That's a matter of opinion. But don't let's argue.... Willetts is after
Glen Naspa. And if I know Indian girls he'll persuade her to go to his
school."

"Persuade her!" Then Shefford broke off and related the incident that
had occurred at Red Lake.

"Reckon any means justifies the end," replied Joe, imperturbably. "Let
him talk love to her or rope her or beat her, so long as he makes a
Christian of her."

Shefford felt a hot flush and had difficulty in controlling himself.
From this single point of view the Mormon was impossible to reason with.

"That, too, is a matter of opinion. We won't discuss it," continued