ir homes, and said it was we. Then the soldiers came to
arrest Comes Flying, and Comes Flying was killed, and my people fled
far in among the Red Rocks. They had done no wrong, but they were
afraid. Then the Tontos killed our white brother, Bennett, always our
friend, and burned his house and carried away his wife and children.
Our young men were few, but they followed and fought the Tontos and got
the woman and her little ones and tried to hide them away among the
rocks until white soldiers could come, but there came more Tontos. They
were too many, and they kept between the soldiers and Comes Flying's
band. They killed two of our young men and got the woman once more, and
then my young chief, Capitan Chiquito, followed, with only the braves
you count on one hand, but he caught the Tontos and rescued the woman,
and was shot. Gran Capitan Stannard brings me, and all his soldiers,
and follows after the Tontos, but it was Capitan Chiquito who first
reached her, and who would have saved her and her babies in their
hiding-place, only he was held back--held back----" and with his head
high and his black eyes sweeping the circle, 'Tonio stood and glared
about him in search of an absent accuser. Then, with appeal in his
gaze, he turned once more to the general.

"It is as 'Tonio says," answered Crook, with grave inclination of the
head. "His brother chief, Captain Stannard, sustains him. Is it not so,
Stannard?"

"Every word of it, sir!" was the blunt reply, as Stannard rose from his
seat. "We found two Apache-Mohaves killed. We chased the Tontos into
the mountains. Lieutenant Harris and 'Tonio, with Apache-Mohave scouts,
rescued Mrs. Bennett, and led us." Whereat Archer's sad, white face was
bowed upon his hands. Oh, that luckless despatch!

"We are listening, 'Tonio," said the general, as Stannard slowly
resumed his seat, looking almost disappointed that there had been none
to contradict or doubt his view.

"My father asks me why I left the camp after we had brought home our
Capitan Chiquito. It was because my people came to the willows and
called me. The sister of Comes Flying was weeping for her brother.
Ramon and Alvarez were angered and talking battle and revenge, and
Pancha came to warn me and to beg me come or there would be much
trouble. My young men were doubly angered. They said the white brother
had broken his promise, had feasted the Tontos and had starved them,
had killed Comes Flying and driven our women and