food or drink. Three brown hands were eagerly
outstretched--though it was the hand of Hagar which grasped first
the big tin cup. They not only drank, they guzzled, and
afterward drew a fold of blanket across their milk-white lips,
and grinned in pure animal satisfaction.

"Bueno. He-e-ap bueno!" they chorused appreciatively, and
squatted at the top of the stone steps, watching Phoebe
manipulate the great ball of yellow butter in its wooden bowl.

After a brief silence, Hagar shook the tangle of unkempt, black
hair away from her moonlike face, and began talking in a soft
monotone, her voice now and then rising to a shrill singsong.

"Mebbyso Tom, mebbyso Sharlie, mebbyso Sleeping Turtle all time
come along," she announced. "Stop all time corral, talk yo'
boys. Mebbyso heap likum drink yo' butter water. Bueno."

When Phoebe nodded assent, Hagar went on to the news which had
brought her so soon to the ranch--the news which satisfied both
an old grudge and her love of gossip.

"Good Injun, him all time heap kay bueno," she stated
emphatically, her sloe black eyes fixed unwaveringly upon
Phoebe's face to see if the stab was effective. "Good Injun come
Hartley, all time drunk likum pig.

"All time heap yell, heap shoot--kay bueno. Wantum fight
Man-that-coughs. Come all time camp, heap yell, heap shoot some
more. I fetchum dog--Viney dog--heap dragum through