A moment later he drew back, but his voice came distinctly to the girl’s ears. “He hasn’t moved, Cato,” he said. “I don’t wonder. Poor little devil! He must have lost half the blood in his little body. I wonder who in thunder he is? He’s no half-breed, I’ll warrant.” “Ha’f-breed? Ha’f-breed? You mean ha’f-Injun, Mars’ Jack? No, suh, he ain’t no ha’f-breed, he ain’t. He’s quality, sure. He’s got de littlest hands and feet I ever see’d on a man. He ain’t no half-strainer, he ain’t.” Words, accent, and intonation were all strange to the girl; she understood only that the man was speaking of her and that his tones were friendly. The other’s answer came promptly. “Oh! Yes! He’s of good stock, all right,” he said. “But confound it, who _is_ he? And where in thunder did he come from? Was he with that Indian or was he trying to get away from him? And what in thunder did he come bounding out of those bushes for just in time to stop a bullet? I wish he’d wake up and tell us about himself.” Cato’s voice came again. “He sure do look mighty white, Mars’ Jack,” he commented. “You reckon he gwine die?” “Die nothing! The wound isn’t anything. But he’s lost a lot of blood and he’s got to be looked after. Confound it! It’s bad enough to have to take charge of this wagon without having to look out for a fool boy into the bargain.” A fool boy! Indignation swelled in the girl’s bosom. A fool boy, indeed. What right had he---- But the voice went on and she listened. “Confound those infernal fools that had to go shooting down an Indian just because he was an Indian.” Cato’s reply came slowly. “You sure dat Injun gem’man didn’t mean no harm, Mars’ Jack?” he questioned, doubtfully. “Mean any harm! Why, he had made the peace sign and had dropped his rifle. It was sheer murder to shoot him, and I’m mighty glad he took his vengeance before he died. But I’ll have the dickens and all of a time explaining to the chiefs at Girty’s Town.” “Girty’s Town! Whar dat, Mars’ Jack?” “That’s a Shawnee village just ahead here. There’s no way around it and we’ve got to go through it.” “You--you gwine drive right through without stoppin’, Mars’ Jack, ain’t you, suh?” “No! I’m going to report what has happened. I’ve got to set things right. The Indians about here are supposed to be friendly and I’ve got to do what I can to keep them so. War hasn’t begun yet, and anyway, I’m here on invitation from Tecumseh himself.” Cato’s teeth began to chatter. “You--you ain’t gwine into dat Injun village and tell ’em about what done happen, is you, Mars’ Jack?” he faltered. “Certainly I am. I’ve got to see that this ammunition gets through safely to Fort Wayne, haven’t I? Our men will need it soon. I don’t want to go there. I want to go to Wapakoneta and get Miss Estelle. But I’ve got to go. So the best I can do is to see Colonel Johnson, or send him word about this business and send Tecumseh word that I’m coming back as quick as I can to redeem my promise.”