now abundant subject-matter for conversation and for
unlimited "Ughs!" The entire future suddenly brightened up for that band
of Nez Perces, and they were entirely confident of their ability to
procure a new supply of dogs. As for One-eye, that sagacious brute
wandered around the corral, from hoof to hoof, until he knew the facts
of the case thoroughly. He would have followed Two Arrows, but for the
stern refusal of Long Bear. He was needed at home all the more now that
there would be additional watching and barking to be done. On the whole
he was as well satisfied to have it so, for his accumulation of bone
treasures was becoming an affair for any dog to think about seriously.

Sile was not exactly a hero when he reached camp, but he was an
uncommonly hungry boy. It seemed to him that he could eat as many trout
as Ha-ha-pah-no could broil for him, and he certainly worked at it
steadily for a long time. Every other human being in camp did the same,
although some had already made a fair beginning upon venison cuts and
coffee. All had room for some fresh trout, and all said they would be
glad of a little bear-meat for a change. Sile was in the saddle promptly
enough after breakfast, to go and see his bear brought in. He would not
willingly have missed that, and was only afraid lest it should have been
stolen in his absence, in spite of the care taken by Yellow Pine to
throw bushes over it, and give any roving coyote an idea that a trap was
there. Said Pine, in answer to a question,

"Them critters is too cunnin' for their own good. One on 'em'd sit down
in front of that there, and howl all day and all night before he'd make
up his mind to scratch at the brush."

"How'd he guess at a trap?"

"Oh, they're laid on kind o' reg'lar, and he'd smell the b'ar too, and
he'd know it was somethin' more than ordinary. There's jest one thing
they ain't cunnin' enough for, and that's a rifle-bullet. They'd dodge
that if they could see it a comin'."

The bear was found all safe and was brought in and skinned, and Sile
said to himself,

"Now I've got something better than a deer to tell of when Two Arrows
gets back again."

CHAPTER XXI

THE GOLD MINE

A proud girl was Na-tee-kah that bright September day, and she took an
extraordinary amount of pains with her hair. So, for that matter, did
Ha-ha-pah-no, and Sile could but discern that both treated him with much
more respect than at first. He had been with Two Arrows at