WE TRADE WITH INDIANS 



without calling on him or disturbing the rest of 

 the garrison." 



"That's a good idea/' added Bill. ''It'll save 

 a heap of time." 



"Well,'* said old Tom, "we'll try an' not put 

 the captain an' Bill to so much trouble unless it's 

 a case of dire necessity. I hardly think that Sa- 

 tank will make war on us, an' if he should, we're 

 pretty well fixed for fighting an' can give him a 

 good tussle before we call on our neighbors for 

 help." 



"I'm not scared about it," replied Bill, "an' I 

 know you boys ain't, for this is just an emergency 

 arrangement. But I tell you right now, Tom, if 

 there's any fighting an' you don't give me a show 

 I won't like you for it." 



I took the bead necklace and hung it in a con- 

 spicuous place on the wall, Httle thinking that we 

 would ever have occasion to use it, and sincerely 

 hoping that we would not; but I felt that both Bill 

 and Tom, who understood Indian ways best, really 

 anticipated trouble with them and were mentally 

 preparing to meet it. 



After the departure of our guests next morning 

 each of us went about his accustomed duties as 

 usual. 



After several days had passed and nothing had 

 occurred to arouse our uneasiness we gradually 

 regained our accustomed assurance, but I know 

 that while out hunting or skinning wolves I was 



231 



