“Let me tell you what I reckon that schemer Braddon is planning to do with his big pay promises to the old Zuni chief,” Billie continued, impressively; “he wants to get the greater part of the tribe to flock away after him; and when he finds a chance he means to give ’em the slip, come back here, and force the old medicine man to show him where that wonderful treasure of his lies, that has been talked about so much all through this region for years! What d’ye think of that for a grand scheme, now, Pard Adrian?” The other sat there for a full minute, as though digesting the tremendous idea in his mind, while Billie waited to hear what his opinion might be, his face reflecting the various emotions that controlled him. Finally Adrian looked up. “First of all, let me congratulate you, Billie, on doing what you did. It was the work of no greenhorn. After this Donald and myself have got to look out, if we don’t want to wake up some fine morning, and find ourselves only has-beens. You’re getting there with a rush. But I reckon you hugged that hiding-place till they went about their business; you never tried to crawl back again, and take new chances?” “I guess I knew enough for that, Adrian. I just lay there, and waited. They went off after a bit; and when the coast was clear, I stepped out and walked around, like nothing was the matter. But as soon as I got the first chance, let me tell you I scooted for the camp, licketty-split. I was fairly bursting with that news. And it’s nice of you to pay me such a compliment, that’s right. I feel as if it was worth all it cost, just to know that one of my chums appreciates me.” “And the other will say the same when he hears what you did,” Adrian hastened to declare. “But I wish Donald would show up; he’s been gone all of two hours.” “Say, you don’t think they could a got hold of him, any sort of way, do you, Adrian?” questioned Billie, as though a sudden terrible suspicion had gripped him. “Well, hardly, in broad daylight,” laughed the other; “if it was night, now, there might be some little reason to think that way. He’ll be along soon. P’raps he’s found those cowboys good company, and is clinching them as friends, so we could rely on their backing, if it came to such a showdown.” “Oh! I hope we don’t have trouble with that bunch,” remarked Billie; “because I’m opposed to violence, you know; but then, if they try to chase us out of this Zuni town, I reckon I’d get my back up, and kick just as hard as the rest of you. But you believe what I told you, don’t you, Adrian?” “It seems almost too terrible to believe, but when I remember the look on the face of that man, Mark Braddon, I’m tempted to say that nothing would be too dreadful for him to try, if he thought he saw a chance to make a big haul by it.”