in' heredity inter consideration; not a whole lot. He
don't keer a brass button who his father killed, or who killed his
father. 'Cordin' ter Redskin reckonin' they've all gone on the long
trail to the Happy Huntin' Grounds, an' they're no longer objec's in
the scen'ry. Broken Feather's got his own pussonal reasons fer enmity
agin your lordship. He knows as you're a long sight cleverer'n he is
as an all-round scout; he's some afraid o' your cleverness. He knows
you're wealthy; he covets your wealth. He knows you're honest; an' the
one pusson as a rogue most dislikes is the man who acts allus on the
straight. Moreover, Kiddie, you've already got the better of Broken
Feather on several occasions, an' he ain't liable ter forget it."

"Gee!" exclaimed Rube Carter. "Never know'd th' Old Man make sich a
long an' logical oration in me life before!"

"You've got yer own remedy, however," resumed Gideon. "It's agin th'
law fer Injuns ter come outer their reservations, same as Broken
Feather an' his braves have been doin' lately. The hull thing 'ld be
stopped if you'd only appeal t' th' law fer pertection."

"But suppose I don't approve of the Indians being herded like sheep in
fenced reservations?" Kiddie objected. "Suppose I'm of opinion that in
a free land like this all men should be equally free, Redskin and
Paleface alike? No, Gid, I ain't figuring to appeal to the law. If I
need any protection against a man such as Broken Feather, I'll do the
business on my own, and a gun, a fleet horse, and my own common sense
are good enough for me, without the interference of the law."

CHAPTER IX

KIDDIE'S "SELFISHNESS"

Kiddie's fall had been violent, and might easily have been fatal; but
it had been neither sudden nor unexpected, while his experience with
bucking bronchos, and his great skill as a horseman, had helped him to
avoid serious physical injury.

He was bruised, he was shaken; but no bones were broken, and his worst
injury was his sprained ankle. This gave him acute pain and
inconvenience for many days, requiring care and rest.

Naturally he fretted under the forced inactivity; he became impatient,
and when at length he could limp from his room to the veranda, he
wanted to mount a horse and ride along to the forest clearing to
superintend the building of his cabin.

"There's no need fer you ter go an' see things," Rube Carter insisted.
"Jus' you have a good rest until you're quite well. Everyth