The men came and stood awkwardly. "I 'ain't never found any excitement in getting up early," said Jones, and was silent. A burning log shifted, and the bell sounded in a new place as the leader pastured along. Jones kicked the log into better position. "But this affair's gettin' inter-esting," he added. "Don't you smoke?" Keyser inquired of Cumnor, and tossed him his tobacco-pouch. Presently they were seated, and the conversation going better. Arizona was compared with Idaho. Everybody had gone to bed. "Arizona's the most outrageous outrage in the United States," declared Jones. "Why did you stay there six years, then?" said Cumnor. "Guess I'd been there yet but for you comin' along and us both enlistin' that crazy way. Idaho's better. Only," said Jones, thoughtfully, "coming to an ice-box from a hundred thousand in the shade, it's a wonder a man don't just split like a glass chimbly." The willows crackled, and all laid hands on their pistols. "How! how!" said a strange, propitiating voice. It was a man on a horse, and directly they recognized E-egante himself. They would have raised an alarm, but he was alone, and plainly not running away. Nor had he weapons. He rode into the fire-light, and "How! how!" he repeated, anxiously. He looked and nodded at the three, who remained seated. "Good-evening," said the sergeant. "Christmas is coming," said Jones, amicably. "How! how!" said E-egante. It was all the English he had. He sat on his horse, looking at the men, the camp, the cook-fire, the A tent, and beyond into the surrounding silence. He started when the bell suddenly jangled near by. The wandering mule had only shifted in towards the camp and shaken his head; but the Indian's nerves were evidently on the sharpest strain. "Sit down!" said Keyser, making signs, and at these E-egante started suspiciously. "Warm here!" Jones called to him, and Cumnor showed his pipe. The chief edged a thought closer. His intent, brilliant eyes seemed almost to listen as well as look, and though he sat his horse with heedless grace and security, there was never a figure more ready for vanishing upon the instant. He came a little nearer still, alert and pretty as an inquisitive buck antelope, watching not the three soldiers only, but everything else at once. He eyed their signs to dismount, looked at their faces, considered, and with the greatest slowness got off and came stalking to the fire. He was a fine tall man, and they smiled and nodded at him, admiring his clean blankets and the magnificence of his buckskin shirt and leggings. "He's a jim-dandy," said Cumnor. "You bet the girls think so," said Jones. "He gets his pick. For you're a fighter too, ain't y'u?" he added, to E-egante.