ubt. The chief's
arm was roughly bandaged, and the coarse cloth seemed to be eating into
the terribly swollen flesh.

That was enough. All the Doctor's old instincts came at once to the
front, and he took the injured limb in his hand.

He must have caused the Indian intense pain, but the fine
bronzed-looking fellow, who had features of a keen aquiline type, did
not move a muscle, while, as the Doctor laid his rifle up against a
rock, the little mounted band uttered in chorus a sort of grunt of
approval.

"It is peace, Bart," said the Doctor. "Maude, my child, get a bowl of
clean water, towels, and some bandages. Bart, get out my surgical
case."

As he spoke, he motioned to the chief to dismount, which he did,
throwing himself lightly from his pony, not, as a European would, on the
left side of the horse, but on the right, the well-trained animal
standing motionless, and bending down its head to crop the nearest
herbage.

"Throw a blanket down upon that sage-brush, Joses," continued the
Doctor; and this being done, the latter pointed to it, making signs that
the chief should sit down.

He did not stir for a few moments, but gazed searchingly round at the
group, till he saw Maude come forward with a tin bowl of clean water and
the bandages, followed by Bart, who had in his hand a little surgical
case. Then he took a few steps forward, and seated himself, laying his
rifle down amongst the short shrubby growth, while Juan, Sam, and Harry
on the one side, the mounted Indians upon the other, looked curiously
on.

Once there was a low murmur among the latter, as the Doctor drew a keen,
long knife from its sheath at his belt; but the chief did not wince, and
all were once more still.

"He has been badly hurt in a fight," said the Doctor, "and the rough
surgery of his tribe or his medicine-man does not act."

"That's it, master," said Joses, who was standing close by with rifle
ready in case of treachery. "His medicine-man couldn't tackle that, and
they think all white men are good doctors. It means peace, master."

He pointed behind the Doctor as he spoke, and it was plain enough that
at all events for the present the Indians meant no harm, for two trotted
back, one to turn up a narrow rift that the little exploring party had
passed unnoticed in the night, the other to go right on towards the
entrance of the rough Horse-shoe.

"That means scouting, does it not?" said Bart.

"I think so," replied the Doct