stay."

He had brought the canoe ashore in the creek at Grizzly Notch, instead
of at his own landing-place nearer the cabin. Rube's injured leg was
still painful, and he had to be helped up the steep trail to
Birkenshaw's camp. So Kiddie had not yet visited his wood-land retreat.

There was a large party of them at supper. In addition to Abe Harum,
Tom Lippincott and Jake Paterson, Sheriff Blagg had dropped in on his
way home down the trail from Three Crossings, where he had been to look
at a bunch of horses. During the meal Kiddie was very quiet. It was
Rube Carter who did most of the talking, and who told them of the
battle of Poison Spider Creek and of Kiddie's election as chief of the
Crows.

"I ain't any surprised at Kiddie's refusin' ter take on the chief
business," commented Gideon.

"Not but what he'd make a tip-top Injun chief," added Isa Blagg. "But
I'm figurin' as the time's gone by for a lay-out of that sort. Thar
ain't liable t' be any more Injun wars an' mutinies, an' thar's no need
fer another Sitting Bull. Buffalo huntin's played out, too. Buffaloes
are 'most all killed off. All that's left for the Redskin is to turn
his mind to agriculture, an' thar's heaps of men c'n teach 'em
husbandry better'n Kiddie could."

"That's so, Isa; that's so," agreed Kiddie.

"Say, Sheriff," interposed Rube; "have you gotten any news ter tell us
about that Sanson T. Wrangler business that brought you t' our camp t'
get Kiddie's advice?"

"No." The sheriff shook his head. "No, it all turned out just as
Kiddie said, in every particular."

"And Nick Undrell had nothin' whatever to do with it?" questioned
Kiddie.

"No, Nick was innercent that time," returned Isa. "Nick's been keepin'
on the straight trail since that occasion when you'd a talk with him,
I'm told, however, that he's broken out again--gamblin', drinkin', an'
cavortin' around with the old gang."

"Which reminds me," said Abe Harum. "Nick Undrell's bin seen prowlin'
around this yer camp a good deal lately--since you've bin away on your
trip, Kiddie. I'm kind o' suspicious that he ain't spying around for
no good. Seems he's bin making friends with that big dog, too."

"With Sheila?" Kiddie started upright in his seat. "By the way, where
is she? I haven't seen or heard her since we came back. I wonder she
hasn't discovered that we're here. Where is she?"

"Oh, the hound's all right," Abe Harum assured him. "Guess she's
asleep in