"But they 'd got the notion scared into them so bad they could n't
believe anything else, and they sure thought there must be Injuns
around somewheres; and so I left 'em and rode on for Apache Teju.
Pretty soon I met a troop of cavalry from Fort Bayard on the trot for
Separ. The captain rode up to me and says, 'Have you been near the
scene of the Indian depredations?'

"'No, sir,' says I, 'I hain't seen no Injun depredations, nor Injuns
neither, this summer.'

"'Humph!' says he, 'that's queer!'

"'Yes, sir,' says I, 'I think likely. I _heard_ there was some trouble
with 'em last night down below Separ, but if there 's _been_ any Injun
depredations I hain't seen 'em a-tall.' And then I rode on, for I had
n't time to be bothered with no more of his questions, and, too, I
reckoned likely him and his soldiers needed some exercise.

"And they got it, too. They just kep' on the trot for the Mexican
line, and kep' a-goin' for three months. They 'd started out for
Injuns, and Injuns they was bound to have. They jest wound around
through all that country south of Separ, and over into old Mexico, and
back again, and up into the mountains and across the plains, and did
n't even see an Apache the whole three months. And they did n't find
out it was all nothin' but a blaze on Pard Huff till after they 'd come
back. I reckon about that time they concluded there ain't no bigger
fool on earth than a tenderfoot, a-tall. And there ain't, neither.

"Well, I tell you, that Pard Huff was sure mad when he found out we-all