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He gave a twitch of his fingers upon the reins, and turned froate He rode up to the rock, which stood like an island of shade in that sea of soft uarded challenge: "Who's that?"

A figure detached itself without sound from the blot of darkness there, and stood almost at his stirrup

"Yo' Good Injun--me likum for talk yo'"

Good Indian was conscious of a distinct disappointh he kept it from his voice when he answered: "Oh, it's you, Peppajee What you do here? Why you no sleepum yo' wikiup?"

Peppajee held up a slim, brown hand for silence, and afterward rested it upon the saddle-fork

"Yo' heap frien' Peaceful Me heap frien' all saet down No can see yo', mebbyso; yo' no likum bad man for se--" He stepped back a pace, and let Good Indian disesture he led him back into the shadow of the rock

"Well, what's the row?" Good Indian asked impatiently, and curiously as well

Peppajee spoke more hastily than was usual "Me watchum Man-that-catchum-fish Hiht--me heap watchum"

"You ht He comes down here to catchum many fish--trout, up in the Malad, you sabe Heap friend Peaceful You no likuer upon Good Indian's aro all same Hartley Come stable--Pete stable--me walkum close--no makum noise Me hear talk Stoppum--no can see--me hear much bad talk All time me hear, heap likum for steal dis ranch Me no sabe"--his tone was doubtful for a space--"all saer?" suggested Grant

"Hihs All time say stealum ranch Makum much bad talk, theh, me All time shakum head Mebbyso thinkum I lie--shont-ishah

"Me go camp Me thinkum, thinkum all time Dat man have bad heart Kay bueno No can sleep--thinkum mebbyso do bad for Peaceful Come ranch, stop all time dark, all time heap watchua--hi of neck in all directions, the wariness of one who goes by stealth "Hio all tio still, for watchum Yo' come, mebbyso make heap much noise--kay bueno Dat o still" He folded his aresture of finality, and stood statue-like in the deep gloom beside the rock