"That it will. But, oh, Mr Vipan, do try and persuade them to leave us in peace. You know them so well, I am sure you can." "I'll try, anyhow, if only for your sake," he answered, with a queer smile. The three chiefs named had halted their band, and, attended by a couple of warriors displaying dingy white rags on their lance-points, were cantering down towards the corral. Arrived within two hundred yards, they halted. There went forth to meet them Vipan, Major Winthrop, and one of the latter's cowboys, who rejoiced in the name of Sam Sharp; also two of the teamsters to hold their horses. When within a hundred yards of each other, both parties dismounted. The three chiefs, giving their horses to their attendants, advanced with slow and stately gait to where the three white men awaited them. "Do we meet in peace, or do we meet in war?" began Vipan, as both parties having surveyed each other for a few moments the Indians showed no inclination to break the silence. No answer followed this straight question. Then Lone Panther, breaking into a broad grin, said: "Injun brother Goddam hungry. White Colonel gib him heap `chuck.'" [Food.] Of this flippant remark Winthrop, to whom it was addressed, took no notice beyond a signal to Vipan to carry the negotiations further. The latter explained to the chiefs that the "white Colonel" entertained his friends, not his enemies. They had attacked his outfit, tried to run off his stock, and had made themselves a dangerous nuisance. But that the camp had been vigorously defended they would have killed every one in it. They could not do this, and now they came and asked to be feasted as if they were friends. To this Crow-Scalper, putting on his most jovial smile and manner, replied that the whole affair had been a mistake. Young men, especially when on the war-path, would not always be restrained; that being so, the chiefs were obliged to humour them. Beside, the warriors had no idea that these whites were among the friends of Golden Face, or that Golden Face was in the camp at all. Otherwise they would never have attempted to run off even a single hoof. Vipan could hardly keep from roaring with laughter at the twinkle which lurked in the speaker's eye, as he delivered himself of this statement. Both he and the red man knew each other well--knew the futility of trying to humbug each other. Hence the joke underlying the whole thing.