id Raven quietly, laying his hand down upon the flask.

The Indian with gleaming eyes threw on the pile some additional skins.

"Good!" said Raven, surrendering the flask. Swiftly the Indian caught it
up and, seizing the cork in his teeth, bit it off close to the neck
of the flask. Snatching his knife from his pocket with almost frantic
energy, he proceeded to dig out the imbedded cork.

"Here," said Raven, taking the flask from him. "Let me have it." From
his pocket he took a knife containing a corkscrew and with this he drew
the cork and handed the flask back to the Indian.

With shameless, bestial haste the Indian placed the bottle to his lips
and after a long pull passed it to his waiting brother.

At this point Raven rose as if to close the negotiations and took out
his own flask for a final drink, but found it empty.

"Aha!" he exclaimed, turning the empty flask upside down. At once the
Indian passed him his flask. Raven, however, waved him aside and, going
to his pack, drew out a tin oil can which would contain about a gallon.
From this with great deliberation he filled his flask.

"Huh!" exclaimed the Indian, pointing to the can. "How much?"

Raven shook his head. "No sell. For me," he answered, tapping himself on
the breast.

"How much?" said the Indian fiercely.

Still Raven declined to sell.

Swiftly the Indian gathered up the remaining half of his pack of furs
and, throwing them savagely at Raven's feet, seized the can.

Still Raven refused to let it go.

At this point the soft padding of a loping pony was heard coming up the
trail and in a few minutes Little Thunder silently took his place in
the circle about the fire. Cameron's heart sank within him, for now it
seemed as if his chance of escape had slipped from him.

Raven spoke a few rapid words to Little Thunder, who entered into
conversation with the Stonies. At length White Cloud drew from his
coat a black fox skin. In spite of himself Raven uttered a slight
exclamation. It was indeed a superb pelt. With savage hate in every line
of his face and in every movement of his body, the Indian flung the skin
upon the pile of furs and without a "By your leave" seized the can and
passed it to his brother.

At this point Raven, with a sudden display of reckless generosity,
placed his own flask upon the Indian's pile of goods.

"Ask them if they want molasses," said Raven to Little Thunder.

"No," grunted the Indian contemptuously, preparing to