others who had something to say.

Rita, too, came in for her share, and it was remarkable how closely she
and Ni-ha-be were able to describe every article of clothing worn by
their two white friends and their three white enemies, with the color
of their eyes and hair, and every noticeable thing about their arms and
equipments. The girls had eyes of their own, and they had used them to
good purpose. The fact is, Indians can read almost everything
excepting books.

CHAPTER XIX

Many Bears did not seem disposed to hurry his return to his camp after
his meeting with Steve and Murray.

Perhaps he was the more willing to ride slowly because it gave him an
opportunity to ask a great many questions, and to consider the answers
given. He did not seem very curious as to the past history of his new
friends. Indian politeness compelled him to let them keep their own
affairs to themselves. Besides, the account they gave sounded well.

"Send Warning and Knotted Cord find mine? Ugh! Good. Apache not want
him. Friend keep him. Then other pale-face come for mine? Ugh! Bad.
Drive off friend. Too many rifle. Too many big strong. You not like
it. Ugh! Apaches drive 'em all away. Take every scalp. You see."

"We're in no hurry about the mine," said Murray. "Stay away now. Go
back for it some day. Too many Lipans."

"They go away too. Go beyond mountains. Never come over here before.
Apaches must teach 'em a lesson."

That was the great trouble in the mind of Many Bears at that moment.
He wanted to travel westward as fast as possible, and yet here was a
band of his tribe's worst and most ancient enemies within easy striking
distance. Not to speak of Captain Skinner and his men, and the
"plunder" there might be in their "outfit." He felt that it was no
small thing to be a great chief, and to be compelled to decide
questions of such importance.

"What you say? Send Warning tell friend what do."

"Let 'em all alone," said Murray, promptly. "Maybe Lipans fight
pale-faces. Maybe not. Both get scared and go away. No good to lose
warrior for nothing."

"Get scalp. Get big name. All tribe say great chief!" That was the
difficulty. His pride was in the way of his good-sense.

Murray did his best in the remainder of that ride, and he might perhaps
have succeeded in his peaceful advice, if it had not been for the hot
temper of the younger braves and the "war spirit" they found at the
camp on thei