For a moment Willett sat and studied him. "Siwashes" of Puget's Sound, Klickatats of the Columbia, and scowling, beetle-browed Modocs of upper Nevada he had often met, and their shifting eyes dropped before the keen gaze of the dominant soldier, but this son of the Sierras never so much as suffered the twitch of a muscle, the droop of an eyelash. In the language of the "greaser" cargador, whose border vernacular had suffered through long contact with that of the gringo, "'Tonio didn't scare worth a damn, even when the lieutenant tried bulldozing," but that may merely have been the expression of civilian jealousy of military methods. Being in the pay and under the protection of the United States, 'Tonio could be called on for explanation at any time, only--there were two ways of calling. "Tell him," said Willett, "the chief-of-chiefs believes the Apache Mohaves are hiding in the Mogollon,--many of them--bucks, squaws and children, and he was sent to find them and to bring them to the reservation. Why did he fail?" Munoz, as nearly as he could, put the question, but none too confidently. "Because my people were driven beyond sound of 'Tonio's voice," was the calm reply, the eyes for the officer, the words for the man, and Munoz again translated. "How so? Was not word sent them by Arahawa?" "Arahawa said the white brother would come with food and presents to lead them home. What they saw was guns and scouts and soldiers. Therefore, they were afraid and fled. Soldiers with guns catch no Mohaves who fear. Therefore was it useless, and I tired." "Could _you_ have caught them and persuaded them had you gone alone?" And Willett asked as he had been instructed at headquarters. "Caught? Yes! Persuaded? No! They say white soldiers killed Comes Flying, brother to Chief Lone Pine." "How does he know Comes Flying was killed? We heard it only the night I reached Prescott. No one has told it--here." And now the officer's eyes were glittering. The adjutant shifted uneasily in his chair. This was news to him. Comes Flying stood second only to Lone Pine in the tribe, yet Camp Almy had not heard it. 'Tonio had told it not even to Harris. "The mountain eagle is 'Tonio's friend; the bear, the lynx, the birds are his brothers." "Then you _knew_ the Apache Mohaves were in the Verde Valley--and in Dead Man's Canon as late as last week--that they had raided Stoner's Ranch?" "They were not there, nor did they raid Stoner's Ranch! My people stayed not even on the East Fork. They fled deep in the Mogollon." Willett gave vent to impatient "Pish!" The Indians he had known all lied, of course, but looked it. This man looked him full in the face, even as he lied, and looked the truth. "I'll show you why we know you lie," said he impulsively, but the adjutant held up a warning hand, saying, "Listen!"