. This
despatch is two days old now. Have we nobody who can talk with this
Indian?"

"Nobody, I fear, sir," answered Strong, bending over the scout and
examining the brass identification tag worn by each of those regularly
employed and mustered. "He's a Hualpai. No. 21. Even Harris doesn't
know that tongue, sir."

"If anybody here does, it's one of those two that got in from Verde
last evening," said Archer reflectively. "Turner evidently had no idea
the hostiles were all about us, and he thinks the previous despatch
must have reached us. Corporal, go find the couriers and fetch them
here. Be seated, gentlemen," he continued, in his courtly way, then
turning from everybody, stepped out on the sandy level between his
quarters and the office building, and began pacing slowly up and down.

What was to be done? No word had come from Stannard. Stirring, yet
disquieting news they now had from Turner, whose wounded lay in need of
medical attention a long day's march through stony wilds, with jealous
and savage eyes watching every trail. Here at Almy he had two companies
of sturdy foot, capable of covering ground almost as fast as the
cavalry, but wearing out shoe leather much faster. Twenty of these
fellows could fight their way through to the Tonto, but might have just
as many more wounded to care for, and be unable to transport them.
Moreover, with so many hostiles on every side, was he justified in
stripping the post of its defenders? It was no pleasant situation. It
was more than perplexing. Presently he turned and, using such signs as
he thought might be comprehensible, asked the impassive runner if he
knew where the first fight took place, and the Hualpai, as would almost
any Indian partially gathering the drift of a question, began a
rambling reply, pointing as he spoke, with shifting finger, all over
the range to the south-east.

"Bella, dear, have we anything that this incomprehensible creature
could eat?" asked Archer. "It may help matters." And presently the lady
of the house appeared at the hall door again, with a tray in her hands.
Briggs ceremoniously took it, and set huge slices of bread and jam
before the gaunt mountaineer, who found his feet in an instant;
received a slice on the palm of his outspread hand; lifted it
cautiously, his yellow teeth showing hungrily; smelled it suspiciously,
thrust forth his tongue, and slowly tasted the strange mixture on the
surface; then, with confidence established, finis