kin hold out on it two or three weeks ef we hev to."

"I don't think it will be that long," said Henry confidently. "In fact
we mustn't let it be too long. We've got to be out and away, following
that red army with the cannon."

They continued their work without interruption, although at intervals
they saw the Indians on the far slope, well out of range, but
attentively watching the smoke that came from the mouth of the cavern.
When the task was nearly over Long Jim took a good long look at them.
Then he laughed deeply and a long time, doubling over with merriment.

"'Scuse me, Henry," he said, "but this life is so full uv jokes. I enjoy
it all the time, ev'ry minnit uv it. A little while ago I wuz laughin'
at the notion of A-killus with a hundred pounds or more uv brass on him,
runnin' away from the warriors, jumpin' in a creek an' stickin' in the
mud at the bottom clean down to his waist."

"That was the joke then, Jim, what's the joke now?"

"It's them Injuns out thar. They know we're here, an' that thar's a kind
uv long narrow mouth to this bee-yu-ti-ful stone house uv ourn. They see
smoke comin' out uv it, an' they don't understand it. They wonder ef
fire hez busted right out uv the bowels uv the earth an' burnt us all
up, an' ag'in they're 'fraid to come an' see lest they meet rifle
bullets ez well ez smoke. I pity them red fellers."

"I think that pity is wasted on men who want to kill us and take our
scalps."

"It ain't that. I know they want to do them things to us, but I know,
too, that they ain't goin' to do 'em. It's 'cause they're so onsartain
in thar minds. Onsartainness is the greatest uv all troubles. Keeps you
so you can't eat an' sleep, nor keep still neither. Jest plum' w'ars you
out. Ef you know what you're goin' to do you're all right, but ef you
don't you're all wrong. That's the reason I feel sorry fur them Injun
fellers, lookin' at our smoke an' a-guessin', an' a-guessin', an'
a-guessin' an' never guessin' right. We'll be all through in a half-hour
an' then we kin let the fire die."

"Right glad I'll be, too," said Paul, who was standing near the door for
air, and glad they all were when the last of the deer was cooked, and
the last of the coals were shoved out to die among the green bushes.
While the work was going on they had frequently thrown water from the
little stream over themselves to check the heat, but now they took their
blankets and standing in a line at the far end of the ca