came this way again. He brought quite a collection of old duds
and gave 'em to Alaric. That paid him for what he'd lent me, I guess.
And some of White Feather's folks have always given little Jose his
Indian fixings, too. Else--Well, he wouldn't have had much to wear.
Ain't he cute?"

"Indeed, he is. Looks exactly like a tiny White Feather himself. The
dear!" answered Dorothy, helping herself to another piece of bread and
breaking it in bits to feed the child, who smiled and swallowed in great
glee. "But your suit? You haven't told about that yet."

"Isn't it fine? I begin to feel like a red man myself, wearing it. White
Feather gave this to me with his own hands. It looks as if it had been
worn a long time but it's a mighty comfortable rig, especially after a
fellow's had--nothing at all."

Then Dorothy talked, her words fairly tumbling over each other in her
haste to tell all that had happened at San Leon while he was gone. She
ended with the question:

"Will you go back with me now, Jim? or with all of us, when we find
them! My heart! How glad, how glad they'll be!"

Jim shook his head.

"I can't, Dolly, not yet. I've got to stay till Alaric comes. Nobody
knows when that'll be, he's so lazy; and so sure now that I'll do his
work for him. Besides--I've got something on my mind. Even if--even
if--Well, I shan't go back to San Leon till I take a peace offering with
me. I think--anyway I hope--I've--No matter. Where are the others, do
you think? How did you get so far away from 'em, alone?"

"I don't know. But I wish--I wish they'd come. Ah! Hark!"

Dorothy stood up and listened. They could hear a horse moving
somewhere, the dull thud of hoofs on soft ground, and a whinny of
recognition to Zaraza feeding near. A moment later Silent Pete came into
sight, and in another moment had dismounted beside them.

He hadn't a word to say but stared at Jim with what would seem reproach
except for a kindly gleam in his blue eyes. Up and down the lad's tall
form the old man's eyes roved many times and then he gave one of his
rare laughs.

"Fits good, hey?"

"First class! Did you ever wear an Indian costume?" asked Jim.

"Huh! I've wore that one more years 'n you're old," said the ex-hunter,
and sitting down helped himself to the bread.

Perhaps the man had never talked so freely as he did now. Of hunting, of
savage fights, and of mining--of anything and everything connected with
Colorado's past as he had known it. Bec