, the Fox leaned over and glared in his eyes with such a
suggestive look that Waffles, being a coward at heart, gradually
subsided, his protests taking the safer form of groans, and grunts,
and wriggles, all of which were alike unavailing.

Presently the Crow uttered a cry of joy.

"Found what you were looking for?" asked Thad.

"Ugh! it is well!" and as he said this the Fox held something up.

Thad may have thought that the Indian boy was making a mountain out of
a mole-hill, for if it had been left to him, he did not know that he
would have willingly paid more than a dollar, at the most, for the
object the Fox now gripped with such evident delight. But then, at the
same time Thad realized that associations often have a great deal to
do with the value of things. That peculiar strip of deerskin,
decorated with colored beads that formed all sorts of designs, must
have come down from some of the Fox's ancestors. Perhaps it was a
species of wampum similar to that in use as currency during the
earlier days, when men like Daniel Boone were trying to settle along
the Ohio River. And then again, it might be that the fore-fathers of
the Fox always wore this strip of beaded leather when they were
invested with the office of chief to the tribe.

At any rate, Waffles had apparently known of its value, and had stolen
it, possibly hoping at some time to receive a rich reward for its safe
return; for surely he could not have fancied it because he had any
love for beauty, or meant to start a collection of Indian relics.

"Are you satisfied, Fox, now that you've recovered your property--if
that is all he took from your home?" Thad asked.

"Huh! much like mark thief on him cheek, so know where belong!"
grunted the Crow boy, longingly.

"Don't you let him!" almost shrieked the wretched Waffles, doubtless
fearing that he was going to be tortured, as a penalty for his
shortcomings. "Them Injuns jest like to mark a man all up, when they
gits the chanct. Tell him to git off'n me! I ain't a goin' to stand
fur it! If he so much as puts the p'int of his knife on me I'll vow
to----"

"Keep still, you cowardly thief!" said Thad, sternly; and even Waffles
seemed influenced by the hidden power in the scoutmaster's tone, for
he broke off in the middle of a sentence, and finished it by mumbling
to himself.

Speaking to the Indian boy Thad went on:

"Run your hand over him again, and hand me any weapon you find. He's
in a state where he