r arrival.

"They're a venomous lot," said Murray to Steve, as he looked around him
while they were riding in. All the mixed "reserve" who could get
ponies had mounted them and ridden out to meet their chief and his
warriors. More than one squaw was among them ready to ply bow and
arrows, or even a lance, if need should be.

"Well," replied Steve, "I reckon an arrow hurts just as much when a
squaw sends it."

"They shoot best on foot."

"I don't see why. I never saw a Lipan squaw in a fight."

"I have, then. I've seen 'em sit down, put their feet on the bow, and
send an arrow farther than any brave could send it drawing with his
hands. Look at some of those bows. Could you bend them?"

"I never tried it sitting down. I've seen a Lipan squaw use a lance,
but it was on a buffalo."

"Do you suppose that ugly old vixen yonder doesn't know how to handle
the one she's carrying? They're terribly unmerciful in a fight."

"I'd hate to fall into her hands, before a fight or after one."

"After one would be the worst. Such squaws as she is are the most
cruel tormentors of prisoners."

The face of Too Many Toes was again against her, for the lance-bearer
was no other.

Alas for her, however!

The warrior to whom the lance belonged, and who also owned the pony she
was riding, caught sight of her at that moment, and instantly galloped
out from his place in the returning column. He did not listen for a
moment to the shrill outcry with which he was greeted, or to her
assertion of her readiness to fight the enemies of the Apaches.

The lance was wrested from her, and she was roughly unseated from the
pony.

"Go get mule," said the contemptuous brave. "Put heap pappoose on him.
Squaw warrior not wanted just now."

"There!" said Ni-ha-be to Rita. "Too Many Toes is in trouble again. I
was watching her."

"Where are your eyes, Ni-ha-be? Don't you see who is coming?"

"Father? All the braves? Oh, Rita, there are Knotted Cord and Send
Warning! They have come to visit their friends."

"I was looking at that ugly old squaw. I hope she will get beaten
again."

Not this time, for she had hastened away at once on being deprived of
her borrowed pony. Her offence against the laws of property of an
Indian village was covered by the apparent circumstances, or it might
have been worse for her.

It was no time for any squaw, old or young, to make herself noticeable,
and the two girls kept themselves almost o