spite of his
impatience over petty details, he was happier than he had been since his
undergraduate days. The marvelous low-lying stars, the little glow of
fire on Ernest's pleasant face, the sweet tenor voice and the mellow
plunking of the banjo were a wonderful background for his happy dreams.
Roger still believed that a man's work could fill every desire of his
mind and soul.

"I have so loved thee,"

(sang Ernest one evening),

"But cannot, cannot hold thee.
Fading like a dream the shadows fold thee,
Slowly thy perfect beauty fades away,
Good-by, sweet day! Good-by, sweet day!"

There was the soft thud of a footstep in the sand and an Indian appeared
in the soft glow of the fire. Ernest broke off his song, abruptly. The
newcomer was of indeterminate age, with black hair falling nearly to
his waist over a bright red flannel shirt. He wore black trousers
girdled at the waist by a broad twist of blue silk. His feet were bare.

"How!" he said, nodding and smiling. "I hear music way out. Come see
maybe white medicine man."

"Good evening," returned Ernest. "Sit down by the fire."

"How'd you like a job?" asked Roger. "Did Mr. Preble send you?"

"No job!" The Indian shook his head. "Sick!"

"Is that so?" Roger's voice was sympathetic. "My friend's a good
medicine man. Where are you sick?"

"In my tooth!" The visitor opened a capacious mouth, displaying a badly
ulcerated gum.

"That's easy! Get the peroxide bottle and a teaspoon, Ern. We'll fix him
up, poor duck. What's your name, old man?"

"Qui-tha," replied the Indian.

"All right, Qui-tha. Now you take a teaspoonful of this and hold it in
the front of your mouth, see!"

Qui-tha looked closely into the faces of the two men, then with touching
docility he did as Roger bade him. In a moment he was blowing foam
violently into the fire. The two men looked at each other a little
aghast.

"You should have held it in your mouth, Qui-tha!" cried Ernest.

The Indian reached for the teaspoon and poured himself another dose.
This he held in his mouth for a moment, gazing at his physicians
solemnly the while. Then he again blew foam into the fire.

"Heap strong medicine," he said. "Fine, strong medicine. Never saw such
strong medicine. You good medicine men. Qui-tha stay work for you. You
let keep bottle."

"Sure," replied Ernest, "only be very careful of it. Don't use it up too
fast."

Qui-tha nodded. "You give blanket. Qui-tha sleep