ecome quite
demented. Perhaps this was one of them.

"Yer a stranger here, are ye not?" he asked not ungently. "Where did
ye drop from?"

"Jist from the Injun camp up yon."

"What! not from there!" and Perdue looked his surprise.

"Sartin. Been strollin' round, sizin' things up a bit."

"But wasn't ye afraid of the Injuns? I understand they're as mad as
hornets."

"Mebbe they be, an' I guess ye're right. But they never sting a
friend. They know Pete Martin purty wall by this time."

"What! you're not Pete Martin, the prospector, are you?" and Perdue's
eyes opened with astonishment.

And not only was the saloon-keeper surprised. The men in the room
moved a little nearer, and craned their necks to obtain a better view
of the stranger. Much had they heard of him: his great strength,
wonderful endurance, feats of daring, and simplicity of life.

"Way back in New Brunswick," replied the prospector, "the old Parish
Register says that I was baptized Peter Bartholomew Martin. I was
ginnerally known, however, as 'Pete,' while up here I only git 'Old
Pete,' though it doesn't make any difference what a feller's called. I
guess the Lord'll know me by any name; I only hope so."

"But what are the Indians doing?" asked one of the men.

"Doin'? What ain't they a-doin'! They're gittin' down to bizness
mighty lively; that's what they're a-doin'."

"In what way?"

"Wall, they're tryin' to decide whether it's best to pinch only the
ones who burnt their store, or to hand out a bunch to the whole gang.
Ye see, it's this way," and Pete glanced around upon the eager
listeners, "they're sorter divided like, some wantin' to go the limit,
an' others not. Now, the ones who hold back are the rale Christians,
the best men of the lot. This camp jist depends upon which side wins
out, an' if ye're saved ye may give the credit to that parson chap ye
hiked away from here in sich a mighty hurry."

"We're better rid of him," said Perdue.

"Ye may think what ye like, pard; it's a free country in that way. But
let me remind ye that if ye'd done this same trick to them Injuns ten
years ago, when I fust struck these diggin's, they'd a wiped ye out
quicker'n ye could say Jack Rabbit."

"Ye seem to know a heap about things here for a stranger," remarked
Perdue.

"Ay, it's true, man, what ye say. I ain't been here long, but long
enough to find out a few things, 'specially 'bout that fine lassie up
yon."

"Why, what about