in Lem to the side of the Chief, none other than White Feather, and
placed upon another blanket, handed a fresh pipe, and left to do the
honors of the occasion. Meantime Captain Lem sent a messenger across to
the watching youngsters, that they should come quietly to his own room
at the Barracks and observe matters from that nearer point.

"But--is it safe? What does it all mean?" demanded Leslie of the man.

"Safe as can be. Why, that's White Feather, Chief of a band of Utes and
one of the best friends your father has. Fact. He's awful disappointed,
too, to find the Boss away. Came on a visit of ceremony, with the finest
bucks in his band, to get acquainted and do a little horse-trading.
That's all. Silent Pete can talk Injun and has travelled not a little
with this crowd, afore he settled at San Leon. Huh! Did you think they
was from the Plains?"

"What's the difference? An Indian is an Indian, isn't he? Not to be
trusted, any of them. I don't think my father would like to have the
boys treat those fellows as they're doing. You men ought to arm
yourselves and drive them off the ranch."

The young ranchman regarded Leslie with a look of amused contempt, then
retorted:

"Well, you may be a rich man's son but what you don't know about your
own country'd fill books! All the rest afraid, too? 'Cause if you are,
you'd better get out o' sight. Captain Lem has asked White Feather to
let him bring you over to meet him an' the old feller's said yes. He
said it as if he hated to but was willin' for Lem's sake to do you the
honor. Great Scott! Why, you young idiot, White Feather's a great Chief,
a king among his people, feels he ranks with our President, or the Czar
of all the Russias! Well,--well, I'm beat. I thought 't they had schools
back east where you tenderfeet come from. I supposed you'd learned that
there's more 'n one kind of Indian in this big country. Why, sir, the
difference 'twixt the Arapahoes, or the Cheyennes, and them peaceable
Utes yonder--humph! Well, are you comin' or not?"

Leslie had resented the talkative ranchman's comments on his own
ignorance but had the grace to conceal it. He had even jested a little
at his own expense and said that he must "read up on Indians." Then he
led off his party toward the Barracks and, arrived there, found Captain
Lem vastly relieved. It was greatly to Mr. Ford's advantage to be on
cordial terms with all his neighbors, in that isolated region, and the
loyal Captain real