u come eat supper."

"No!" Peppajee jerked the word out with unmistakable finality. "No eat.
Bimeby mebbyso makum big talk yo'."

Peaceful studied his face, found it stern and unyielding, and nodded
assent. "All right. I eat, then I talk with you." He turned somewhat
reluctantly and followed the others inside, leaving Peppajee to pass the
time away as pleased him best.

Peppajee stood still for a moment listening to the clatter of dishes
from the kitchen, and then with dignity end deliberation seated himself
upon the lowest step of the porch, and, pulling his blanket tight around
him, resettled his disreputable old sombrero upon his head and stared
fixedly at the crimson glow which filled all the west and made even the
rugged bluff a wonderful thing of soft, rose tints and shadows of royal
purple. Peaceful, coming out half an hour after with Baumberger at his
heels, found him so and made a movement to sit down beside him. But
Peppajee rose and stalked majestically to the gate, then turned and
confronted the two.

"I talk yo'. Mebbyso no talk Man-with-big-belly." He waited impassively.

"All right, Jim." Peaceful turned apologetically toward his guest.
"Something he wants to tell me, Baumberger; kinda private, I guess. I'll
be back in a minute, anyway."

"Now don't mind me at all," Baumberger protested generously. "Go ahead
just as if I wasn't here--that's what'll please me best. I hope I ain't
so much of a stranger you've got to stand on ceremony. Go on, and find
out what the old buck wants; he's got something on his mind, that's
sure. Been stealing fruit, maybe, and wants to square himself before you
catch him at it." He laughed his laziest, and began leisurely to fill
his pipe.

Peppajee led the way to the stable, where he stopped short and faced
Peaceful, his arms folded, one foot thrust forward in the pose he
affected when about to speak of matters important.

"Long time ago, when yo' hair black," he began deliberately, with a
sonorous lingering upon his vowels, "yo' all time my frien'. I yo'
frien' all same. Yo' no likum otha white man. Yo' all time bueno. Yo'
house all same my wikiup. Me come eat at yo' house, talk yo' all same
brotha. Yo' boys all same my boys--all time my frien'. Me speakum all
time no lie, mebbyso."

"No," Peaceful assented unhesitatingly, "you no tell lies, Peppajee. We
good friends, many years."

"Huh! Man-that-catchum-fish, him no yo' frien'. Shont-isham. All time
him speakum li