pened out of the usual order," said the
ranchman.

When he learned what Frank had to say Mr. Mabie proved himself just such
a man as the others had believed him to be. He advanced to the Indian,
who was standing there in stoical silence, with his blanket thrown over
his shoulder, and held out his hand.

"I'm glad to meet you again, Running Elk, and sorry to hear about your
trouble. But it will soon be all right. I'll see to it that the
authorities learn about Pierre, and they'll get him before long. In the
meantime, I'm going to give you a letter to my foreman. You take your
little party to the ranch, and they'll see to it that you have plenty to
eat until I come back home," he said.

The chief shook his head sadly.

"Bad! bad! Young braves no think when kill runaway steers. Never more
can happen after this. Send skins to pay when get um. Glad get meat for
squaw and pappoose."

That was the extent of his remarks.

"I guess Injuns ain't got much of a supply of words," remarked Will
aside to Bluff.

"But he means all right. I like the old chap's looks. Come along, Frank,
and tell us all about it. You look like you've been in a fight. Say! the
reds didn't tackle you, did they?" exclaimed Bluff.

"One did; a little chap about hip-high. Ho was out trying to snare a
jack-rabbit, when he found me. I'd taken a header down over a root, and
was lying in a state where I didn't care whether school kept or not. He
led me to their camp, and Jerry found me there later. That's all of it
in a nutshell. Now I'm going to have Mr. Mabie wrap up my hand and take
a look at my head, for it still rings."

After an examination, the ranchman declared that there was nothing
serious the matter.

"It may take a few days for that lump to subside, and these cuts to
heal, but you came out of it better than an old fellow like me could
have done," he said, and Frank felt relieved.

"What are you going to do with Running Elk?" he asked.

"Send him back to his people with some food. Then he will carry this
letter to my foreman, who will look after the party until we get back.
After that I'll see to it that Pierre is taken care of and the chief
recalled to his own."

"I knew you would. I told the old fellow that, but he was sore afraid
that you could never forgive what his young braves had done a year or
two ago."

The old Cree chief soon departed, with a grin on his face, and his arms
full of bundles. He might have been proud, but there