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"All the white men say that," Good Indian persisted, after he had waited a minute Peppajee did not seeun"
"Mebbyso sheriff mans heap damfool Mebbyso heap smart No sabe"
Good Indian studied hieneral characteristic of Peppajee; it see of the whole affair He wondered if Rachel had told her uncle the truth
"Where's Rachel?" he asked suddenly, the words following involuntarily his thought
Peppajee sucked hard upon his pipe, took it away from his mouth, and knocked out the ashes upon a pole of the wikiup fraravely "Yo' ketchum 'Vadnah; no ketchum otha squaw Bad medicine come Heap much troubles come Me no likeum My heart heap bad"
"I'm Rachel's friend, Peppajee" Good Indian spoke softly so that others irl I don't want to bring trouble I want to help"
Peppajee snorted
"Yo' make heap bad heart for Rachel," he said sourly "Yo' like for be friend, yo' no come no more, mebbyso No speakum Bimeby mebbyso no have bad heart no more Kay bueno Yo' white mans Rachel mebbyso thinkum all time yo' Indian Mebbyso thinkum be yo' squaw Kay bueno Yo' all time white mans No speakum Rachel no more, yo' be friend
"Yo' speakum, me like to kill yo', mebbyso" He spoke calmly, but none the less his words carried conviction of his sincerity
Within the wikiup Good Indian heard a singly at Peppajee But Peppajee gave no sign that he either heard the sound or saw the challenge in Good Indian's eyes
"I Rachel's friend," he said, speaking distinctly with his face half turned toward the wall of deerskin "I want to tell Rachel what the sheriff said I want to thank Rachel, and tell her I' trouble" He stopped and listened, but there was no sound within
Peppajee eyed hi in his brorinkled face
"Yo' Rachel's frien', yo' pikeway," he insisted doggedly
From under the wall of the wikiup close to Good Indian on the side farthest froe was thrust out, and waggled cautiously, scraping gently his hand Good Indian's fingers closed upon it instinctively, and felt it sloithdrawn until his hand was pressed against the hide wall Then soft fingers touched his own, fluttered there tihtly folded Good Indian closed his hand upon it, and stood up