easier already."

The Indian did not move or speak, but sat there smoking patiently till
the deep cut was sewn up, padded with lint, and bound, and the wound
above the wrist, where the arrow had entered, was also dressed and bound
up carefully.

"There: now your arm will heal," said the Doctor, as he contrived a
sling, and placed the injured limb at rest. "A man with such a fine
healthy physique will not suffer much, I'll be bound. Hah, it's quite a
treat to do some of the old work again."

The chief waited patiently until the Doctor had finished. Then rising,
he stood for a few moments with knitted brows, perfectly motionless; and
the frontier man, seeing what was the matter, seemed to be about to
proffer his arm, but the Indian paid no heed to him, merely gazing
straight before him till the feeling of faintness had passed away, when
he stooped and picked up the piece of arrow shaft and the head, walked
with them to where his followers were sitting, and held them out for
them to see. Then they were passed round with a series of grunts, duly
examined, and finally found a resting-place in a little beaver-skin bag
at the chiefs girdle, along with his paints and one or two pieces of
so-called "medicine" or charms.

Meanwhile the Doctor was busy putting away his instruments, feeling
greatly relieved that the encounter with the Indians had been of so
friendly a nature.

At the end of a few minutes the chief came back with the large buffalo
robe that had been strapped to the back of his pony, spread it before
the Doctor, placed on it his rifle, tomahawk, knife, and pouch, and
signed to him that they were his as a present.

"He means that it is all he has to give you, sir," said Bart, who seemed
to understand the chief's ways quicker than his guardian, and who
eagerly set himself to interpret.

"Yes, that seems to be his meaning," replied the Doctor. "Well, let's
see if we can't make him our friend."

Saying which the Doctor stooped down, picked up the knife and hatchet
and placed them in the chiefs belt, his rifle in the hollow of his arm,
and finally his buffalo robe over his shoulders, ending by giving him
his hand smilingly, and saying the one word _friend_, _friend_, two or
three times over.

The chief made no reply, but gravely stalked back to his followers, as
if affronted at the refusal of his gift, and the day passed with him
lying down quietly smoking in the sage-brush, while the occupants of the
Do