nded. They're just no man's cattle, they are."

"That's it," said Captain Skinner. "There are plenty of stray herds
hereaway without any owner. The natives kill them whenever they want
beef, just as we've killed this one. It isn't the best kind of eating,
though. I'd rather look for a little deer-meat by-and-by."

Wild beef was better than nothing at all, however, and a busy lot of
cooks were they for a long time after the first pieces of it were
brought in.

They could talk, too, as well as eat, and the result of all their
discussion was that they would do precisely as Captain Skinner had
advised at the beginning of it.

"We sha'n't be safe, boys, till we get to some kind of town. We can
scatter after that, but we'd best keep together for a while. This is a
powerful uncivilized strip of country that we've got into. I've been
down this way before, and I know what I'm talking about."

CHAPTER XXIII

If the Lipan chief could but have known, when he set out from his camp
that evening, what had been determined on by Many Bears and his
councillors, he might have proceeded more wisely. The Apache chief did
not even go over the river, nor did any great number of his warriors.
Those who went came back almost immediately, and Murray saw that
nothing more could be done in behalf of peace.

"Send Warning come with braves?" inquired Many Bears, when at last his
whole force was gathered, impatient to be led away.

"No. We two will stay and help take care of camp. Pale-faces make big
peace with Lipans not long ago. Bad for us to strike them."

The chief could understand that.

An Indian of any tribe is held to be bound by the treaties made by his
people. The younger braves sometimes forget their duty as completely
as some young white men do, but an old warrior, a wise man, like Send
Warning, was naturally expected to know better. He did not lose
anything, therefore, in the good opinion of his new friends, and the
only reply of Many Bears was, "Ugh! Good. Stay with camp. Lodge
ready. Lipans never get near camp. All safe."

It might not have been so entirely safe, a few hours later, if Captain
Skinner and his miners had known, when they passed it so nearly, that
all its fighting population were then miles away on the prairie.

Not many miles, however, for Many Bears was thinking of Murray's
assertion that his enemies would surely come to attack him, and he did
not intend to let them get by him in