he is known as a
thriftless cowman who cannot hold a job long anywhere, and who travels
from ranch to ranch, staying only long enough at each to get fed up,
then passing on with a few dollars in his pocket, to repeat the
operation elsewhere.

"Certainly not," answered Ted. "If I believed that I wouldn't offer you
the job."

"All right," said Woofer. "This outfit looks good to me, an' I'll jine,
an' go ter work instanter."

"You're on the pay roll, then."

Woofer proved quickly that he knew the business thoroughly, and when,
the next morning, the herd got under way, he took the left point, with
Bud on the right, and headed the herd into the north.

For several days life on the trail was monotonous. Whenever Ted could be
spared from the herd he and Stella and Hallie Croffut, and sometimes Ben
or Kit, took long rides off the trail with their rifles, after a
pronghorn or black-tail deer, and frequently they had venison for
supper.

The life was most fascinating to Hallie, who enjoyed every minute of it,
and had seemingly forgotten the unpleasant features of her start with
the party.

Singing Bird rode in the wagon, with Mrs. Graham, waiting on that lady
in the capacity of maid. Stella had undertaken to teach her the duty of
maid, and the girl soon did for Mrs. Graham what had taken a great deal
of Stella's time.

The Indian girl was devoted to Stella, and whenever she was near,
followed the pretty white girl with eyes in which shone devotion and
affection.

She had made herself so useful, and was so self-effacing that every one
wondered how they had ever been able to get along without her.

Stella had conceived a real affection for her, she was so gentle and
sweet of manner.

They had long talks together in the evenings, sitting away from the
fire, the Indian girl telling her white friend all about the life led by
the Indians, their wrongs at the hands of the white men, their religious
beliefs, their songs, and their folklore.

And, more important than all, she taught Stella the language of the
Blackfeet and the Sioux. Stella was a good scholar, and it was
surprising how rapidly she picked up the Indian tongues. Later she was
to feel gratitude to the Indian girl for this knowledge.

For several days Stella had noticed that Singing Bird was uneasy and
apparently unhappy, and it worried her.

She spoke to Ted about it, and he was of the opinion that the Indian
girl was getting homesick, that her wild natu