run the farm. In addition there were two
boarders, a man and his wife who had come West for the latter's
health and who, for the sake of the glorious air, put up with many
minor inconveniences. They were very homesick for the East, and asked
Bob and Betty many questions.

"Just think, Bob," said Betty, as she and Bob went out to the barn
(they had been told that they were free to go anywhere), "there's no
running water in the house. Mrs. Watterby carries in every bit that's
used for drinking and washing. She was up at four o'clock this
morning, carrying water to fill the tubs; she is doing the washing
now."

"Water's as hard as a rock, too," commented Bob. "I suppose that's
the alkali. Did you notice how harsh and dry Mrs. Watterby's face
looks? Seems to me I'd rather drill for water than for oil, and the
first thing I'd do would be to pump a line into the house. They've
lived on this farm for sixty years, your uncle said. At least Grandma
Watterby has. And I don't believe they've done one thing to it, that
could be called an improvement."

"Here's the Indian," whispered Betty. "Make him talk, Bob. I like to
hear him."

The Indian had eaten at the same table with the family, after the
farm fashion, and Betty had been fascinated by the monosyllabic
replies he had given to questions asked him. He was patching a
harness in the doorway of the barn and glanced up unsmilingly at
them. Nevertheless he did not seem hostile or unfriendly.

"You come to see oil fields?" he asked unexpectedly. "You help uncle
own big well, yes? Indians know about oil hundreds of years ago."

"Uncle Dick is working for a big oil company," explained Betty. "I
don't think he owns any wells himself. Tell us something about the
Indians? Are there many around here?"

There was an old sawhorse beside the door, and she sat down
comfortably on that, while Bob, picking up a handy stick of wood,
drew a knife from his pocket and began to whittle.

The Indian was silent for a few minutes. Then he spoke slowly, his
needle stabbing the heavy leather at regular intervals.

"Wherever there is oil, there were Indians once," he announced. "Ask
any oil man and he will tell you. At Lake Erie, in Pennsylvania and
some parts of New York State, where dwelt the Iroquois, many years
after oil was found. It is true, for I have read and heard it."

"Were the Iroquois in New York State?" asked Bob interestedly. "I've
always read of the Mohawks, but not about them