hat Albert should hear
bitter words leveled at his weakness, and he knew that his own
presence was a deterrent. The strong figures and dauntless port
of the older youth inspired respect. Moreover, he carried over
his shoulder a repeating rifle of the latest pattern, and his
belt was full of cartridges. He and Albert had been particular
about their arms. It was a necessity. The plains and the
mountains were subject to all the dangers of Indian warfare, and
they had taken a natural youthful pride in buying the finest of
weapons.

The hot dust burned Dick Howard's face and crept into his eyes
and throat. His tongue lay dry in his mouth. He might have
ridden in one of the wagons, too, had he chosen. As he truly
said, he and Albert had paid their full share, and in the labor
of the trail, he was more efficient than anybody else in the
train. But his pride had been touched by Conway's words. He
would not ride, nor would he show any signs of weakness. He
strode on by the side of the wagon, head erect, his step firm and
springy.

The sun crept slowly down the brassy arch of the heavens, and the
glare grew less blinding. The heat abated, but Albert Howard,
who had fallen asleep, slept on. His brother drew a blanket over
him, knowing that he could not afford to catch cold, and breathed
the cooler air himself, with thankfulness. Conway came back
again, and was scarcely less gruff than before, although he said
nothing about Albert.

"Bright Sun says than in another day or two we'll be seeing the
mountains," he vouchsafed; "and I'll be glad of it, because then
we'll be coming to water and game."

"I'd like to be seeing them now," responded Dick; "but do you
believe everything that Bright Sun says?"

"Of course I do. Hasn't he brought us along all right? What are
you driving at?"

His voice rose to a challenging tone, in full accordance with the
nature of the man, whenever anyone disagreed with him, but Dick
Howard took not the least fear.

"I don't altogether like Bright Sun," he replied. "Just why, I
can't say, but the fact remains that I don't like him. It
doesn't seem natural for an Indian to be so fond of white people,
and to prefer another race to his own."

Conway laughed harshly.

"That shows how much you know," he said. "Bright Sun is smart,
smarter than a steel trap. He knows that the day of the red is
passing, and he's going to train with the white. What's the use
of being on the losing