eads--"

The Indian turned up his eyes in disgust. Torrance chuckled.

"He knows the belly-ache it would give a fellow, and I bet he's et more
men for breakfast than I ever dreamed of murdering. If your appetite's
up to it, Big Chief, take a mouthful of that thug living up on the bank
above the camp. He's got all the pizen of Russia in him, flavoured
with the rankest sauces of Europe."

The Indian waited.

"Shouldn't wonder," ventured the contractor, "if he's got something in
his system."

"If you'll let him get in a word edgeways," laughed Tressa.

"That's the way all yours get in," grumbled her father.

"Bohunk have big plans," grunted the Indian.

"We know that, but what's eating us is what they are."

"Indian find out."

"Then you'll do more than a squad of Police. But what's the charge?"
He eyed the Indian with suspicion. "They're laying for you, you know."

The Indian smiled scornfully.

"That shows you know the bohunk, friend. Because there's really no
need to be afraid if they're afraid of you. It's the nature of the
beasts. In three or four days I'll take the starch out of them by hard
work, but in the meantime you can help us a lot--and earn enough
cartwheels for yourself to keep you in fire-water the rest of your
days. Look here"--he smiled magnanimously--"for every bohunk you give
me an excuse to hang there's a dollar for you. That's five hundred
dollars--and it's yours with my blessing."

"Aren't you extravagant?" asked Tressa slyly.

He regarded his daughter with an injured expression. "You take all the
pleasure from my bargains, Tressa. Make it three dollars a day, Big
Chief. It sort of makes a man reckless to have his own detective
force."

The Indian waited patiently until the torrent of talk ceased.

"Indian take no pay," he said stolidly.

The contractor rubbed his chin. "What's the big idea? That's plumb
crazy--it ain't human nature. I had an Indian working for me once--and
come to think of it, it didn't take us long to strike much the same
bargain--and he was the best man I ever had working for me. If there's
a tribe like you and him, I'll engage the whole caboose on the spot--at
the same price. And I'll give you the sweetest job an Indian ever had
since the North-West Rebellion. All you need do is surround that mess
of huts down there, make a noise like an apple pie, and shoot
everything that comes out to take a bite--that is, after the trestle's
done. If y