Adam learned from Charley Jim that the head of this canyon contained a thicket of mesquite trees, the beans of which the Indians prized as food. Also there were abundant willows and arrowweeds, with which wood the Indians constructed their huge, round, basket granaries. The women of the family pounded the mesquite beans into meal or flour, which was dampened and put away for use. Good grass and water in this remote canyon were further reasons why Charley Jim frequented it. But he did not appear to be a poor Indian, for he had good horses, a drove of burros, pack outfits that were a mixture of Indian and prospector styles, and numerous tools, utensils, and accouterments that had been purchased at some freighting post. Adam was so long weak, and dependent upon Oella, that when he did grow strong enough to help himself the Indian girl’s habit of waiting upon him and caring for him was hard to break. She seemed to take it for granted that she was to go on looking after him; and the fineness and sensitiveness of her, with the strong sense of her delight in serving him, made it impossible for Adam to offend her. She was shy and reserved, seldom spoke, and always maintained before him a simplicity, almost a humility, as of servant to master. With acquaintance, too, the still, dark, impassive face of her had become attractive to look at, especially her large, black, inscrutable eyes, soft as desert midnight. They watched Adam at times when she imagined he was unaware of her scrutiny, and the light of them then pleased Adam, and perturbed him also, reminding him of what an old aunt had told him once, “Adam, my boy, women will always love you!” The prophecy had not been fulfilled, Adam reflected with sadness, and in Oella’s case he concluded his fancies were groundless. Still, he had to talk to somebody or grow into the desert habit of silence, and so he began to teach Oella his language and to learn hers. The girl was quick to learn and could twist her tongue round his words better than he could round hers. Moreover, she learned quickly anything he cared to teach her; and naturally even in the desert there were customs into which Adam preferred to introduce something of the white man’s way. Indians were slovenly and dirty, and Adam changed this in Oella’s case. The dusky desert maiden had little instinctive vanities that contact with him developed. * * * * * One day, when the summer was waning and Adam was getting about on his feet, still a gaunt and stalking shadow of his former self, but gaining faster, the old Indian chief said: “White man heap strong--ride--go away soon?” “No, Charley Jim, I want stay here,” replied Adam. “Hahh!” replied the Indian, nodding. “Me live here--work with Indian. White man no home--no people. He like Indian. He work--hunt meat for Indian.” “Heap sheep,” replied Charley Jim, with a slow, expressive wave of his hand toward the mountain peaks.