ns of a
red savage in full forest costume ascending the steps of a great
university or college was too much for Jack and he had to laugh, much to
the disgust of his friends, but he quickly restored good faith.

Yamanatz put his finger to his tongue, indicating that he did not lie.
"Yamanatz's tongue not split, no lie. Yamanatz show white man Jack heap
big pile gold, some for Jack, some for Chiquita. White man take
Chiquita, do as Chiquita say."

Jack was puzzled; he thought they were bargaining in a matrimonial deal,
and he saw a little brown-eyed girl back East peering through the camp
fire at him.

Chiquita, however, came to his rescue. "Yamanatz has said it. White man
take Chiquita college. Chiquita learn, heap study, make Chiquita like
white sister. Yamanatz show Jack heap big mine, lots gold, some for
Jack; some for Chiquita."

As he at last comprehended this great undertaking--the stupendous task
of educating a blanket Indian girl in a modern college of refined
Caucasians--Jack was dismayed, even more so than the matrimonial
possibility had suggested, for he could get out of that, but here was a
poser. Perhaps the colleges would draw the line on Indians as some
institutions did on negroes. As he made no answer Chiquita continued.

"How many moons take Chiquita college?"

Jack answered slowly, "Take Chiquita four snows little A, B, C's, two
snows big A, B, C's, four snows college."

Both Yamanatz and Chiquita understood, and Chiquita replied, "Ten snows
Chiquita like white sister, know heap?"

Jack nodded "Yes," but in his heart he did not believe she would in a
hundred years be any more than a half-educated savage, under the most
rigid masters.

Yamanatz then spoke up. "How much gold Jack want make Chiquita like
white sister?"

Jack made a rough estimate and ventured at a thousand dollars a year,
"Twelve thousand dollars."

Yamanatz could not understand so much money in American coin, so he
talked with Chiquita, then pointed at the pile of gold nuggets.

Jack held up three fingers, meaning three times as much to make sure.
Yamanatz looked scornfully at the three fingers, then pointed at the big
grain bag in which Jack had his sugar, saying, "Yamanatz show Jack where
get a big bag full. Some for Jack and some for Chiquita, if Jack promise
Yamanatz take Chiquita"--but Chiquita had to supply the word "college."

Jack pondered a long time while the would-be college girl and her father
watched his ever