chatter; for old Hagar was there, and Viney, and the incident of
the dog was fresh in their minds and tickling their tongues.

The Hart boys were assembled at the corral, halter-breaking a
three-year-old for the pure fun of it. Wally caught sight of the
approaching blotch of color, and yelled a wordless greeting; him
had old Hagar carried lovingly upon her broad shoulders with her
own papoose when he was no longer than her arm; and she knew his
voice even at that distance, and grinned--grinned and hid her joy
in a fold of her dingy red blanket.

"Looks like old Wolfbelly's back," Clark observed needlessly.
"Donny, if they don't go to the house right away, you go and tell
mum they're here. Chances are the whole bunch'll hang around
till supper."

"Say!" Gene giggled with fourteen-year-old irrepressibility.
"Does anybody know where Vadnie is? If we could spring 'em on
her and make her believe they're on the warpath--say, I'll gamble
she'd run clear to the Malad!"

"I told her, cross my heart, this morning that the Injuns are
peaceful now. I said Good Injun was the only one that's
dangerous--oh, I sure did throw a good stiff load, all right!"
Clark grinned at the memory. "I've got to see Grant first, when
he gets back, and put him wise to the rep he's got. Vad didn't
hardly swallow it. She said: 'Why, Cousin Clark! Aunt Phoebe
says he's perfectly lovely!"' Clark mimicked the girl's voice
with relish.