ive longer and learn more before they can teach
the Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth," said the interpreter scornfully to Joses.

"I'm very glad of it," said the latter, heartily. "I hate Injun, but
somehow I don't hate the Beaver and you, old Speak English, half--no,
not a quarter--so much as I do some of 'em. I say, how could you tell
in the dark that it was the Beaver?"

"Speak English has eyes," said the Indian, accepting the nickname Joses
gave him without a moment's hesitation. "Speak English uses his eyes.
They see in the dark, like a puma or panther, as much as yours see in
the sunshine."

"Well, I suppose they do," said Joses, with a sigh. "I used to think,
too, that I could see pretty well."

They were back now in the gallery, keeping a steady watch out towards
the plain, Bart being with them, and all were most anxiously waiting
till the Beaver and his companion should come; for they were steadily
endeavouring to make up for a very long fast to an extent that would
astound an Englishman who saw a half-starved Indian eating for the first
time. Joses and Bart made no scruple about expressing their wonder as
to how it was that the Beaver had managed to escape; but the interpreter
and his fellows hazarded no conjecture whatever. They took it for
granted that their clever chief would be sure to outwit the Apaches, and
so it had proved.

At last the Beaver came gliding softly into their midst, taking his
place in the watch as if nothing whatever had happened; and in reply to
Bart's eager inquiries, he first of all raised himself up and took a
long and searching survey of the plain.

This done, he drew the interpreter's attention to something that had
attracted his own notice, and seemed to ask his opinion. Then the
Indian changed his position, and sheltering his eyes from the starlight,
also took a long searching look, ending by subsiding into his place with
a long, low ejaculation that ended like a sigh.

"That means it is all right," whispered Joses.

"Yes; all right," said the Beaver, turning his dark face toward them,
and showing his white teeth, as if pleased at being able to comprehend
their speech.

"Then now tell us, Beaver, how it was you managed to get away."

Without following the chief's halting delivery of his adventures in
English, it is sufficient to say that he and his follower kept the
Apaches back as they made attempt after attempt to ascend the chimney,
shooting several, and so maddening