"His firing of the gun proves that he is a friend," said Warren; "so we have nothing to fear from him." "If that's the case why doesn't he come forward and interdooce himself? whisht now!" What did the Irishman do but pucker up his mouth, whistle, and beckon to the Indian to approach. The latter, however, did not move a muscle. "Helloa!" called Warren; "we thank you for your kindness; won't you come forward and join us?" This appeal was as fruitless as the other. "If the copper gintleman won't come to us I'm going to him." It was just like Tim to start forward to carry out his intention, though a sense of delicacy restrained his companion from joining him. The Indian, however, nipped the little scheme in the bud. The Irishman had taken only two or three steps, when the Sioux, as he evidently was, turned about, leaped lightly down from the bowlder, and vanished. "Well, I'll be hanged!" exclaimed the disappointed Tim, stopping short; "ye may be a good rifle shot, but be the same token ye are not fond of selict company," and with a laugh he walked back to his friend, whose face was so grave as to attract the notice of the Irishman. "What's the matter, Warren?" "Do you know who that Indian is?" "I niver have saan him before." "Yes, you have, many a time; he's been at our house within the past few weeks." "Who is he?" "Starcus." "Git out!" "I'm not mistaken," insisted young Starr, compressing his lips and shaking his head. "He's painted and dressed like his people, but his short hair made me suspicious, and when he turned to jump down from the bowlder, he made a movement that fixed his identity beyond all doubt." "Wal, ye're so sartin about it that I can't help belaving ye; but if it was Starcus, why did he act that way? Why didn't he spake, and why didn't he coom forward and shake hands wid us?" "That's what troubles me; it wasn't like him. It makes me believe he has joined the hostiles." "But if that is the case why did he interfere whin the grizzly was about to chaw me up?" "His whole action was strange, but I explain it this way: He was prowling through this place, probably to help the bucks that are now on the warpath, when he heard our guns, made his way forward, and seeing the bear about to pounce upon you, he fired with the wish to save you. Your danger caused him to feel friendly toward us; for otherwise, instead of killing the bear he would have shot you and me." "Maybe he fired at me instead of the bear," suggested Tim, "and it was a chance shot that saved meself." "That cannot be, for he is too good a marksman to make such a miss. I have fired at a target with him and never saw a better shot than he. Then, too, when he found he missed, he could have turned his Winchester on us in turn and brought us both down." "And ye think after his doing us that kindness, he became an inimy agin?"