"Guess the old lady ain't restin' well. P'raps she's troubled with nightmare." "No, I think she's worrying about her horses." "Do say! Mebbe they're all the poor creetur has." Carmelita smiled. "Well, anyway, I hope she's got enough over and above to buy herself another wagon." "The lady here spoke a while ago of the other man owning you----" "Own me!--like a nigger--not much!" The leg he had been holding shot straight before him. Resting his palms beside him on the ground he looked at the doña in mingled amazement and indignation. "No man owns me, Miss--I dunno your name. I'm my own boss, beholding to no one save and except Jehovah." He swept one arm widely over his head, then used it as a prop again. "If the Cap'n here should try to come it over me as master, why, decent feller that he is, I'd chuck him body and bones out into the storm right here and now. My politics is, one man is good as another if he behaves himself"--a revelation in democracy to the doña. "I greatly appreciate your coming to tell us not to be frightened of those Indians. Likely they only took refuge from the storm, as did we." Brown shook his head. "I reckon they're guides to the big huntin' regions east of here somewhere. That's where we're bound for, and that's why I shipped with the Cap'n in the first place. He's death on big game. You see," confidentially, "I'm a steamboater by profession. Up and down the Mississippi's been my trick for a dozen year. Last fall followed a flock of prairie schooners from Saint Joe to Santa Fé, largely for diversion. Met the Cap'n, and he was full of Californy and huntin' grizzlies. He wanted a man-of-all-work. I wanted a job. Here I be." "Your life has been of great interest, I'm sure." "Well, then, I'll continue where I left off. I was asleep when the Injuns came. They were talkin' mad-like with the boss in lingo. He gave it back to 'em in lingo. They p'inted out here where you be, and I took it they were riled up about you folks. The Cap'n smoothed 'em off after a while. I strolled along to tell you some way not to be scared of the creeters, if they'd growled at you when they came in. Here I still be." "Perhaps you wish to sleep again now." "Not any. Horses all saddled to start. We was guided here by some Injun or other. Found everything here in plenty. Never saw anything like it. Reckon when Cap'n is through in there we'll start somewhere. He stops for no weather. I'll foller where man can lead." Brown's flow of speech had left him talked out. He looked at the girl for a moment or two. She sat with the blanket around her and was studying him. He finally asked: "If I'm not infringin' on the idees you've been raised by I'd like to ask how you come to know American?" She laughed. "My father taught me English. I cannot remember when I did not speak it." "Well! Your pop's Spanish, I take it."