Page:B M Bower - Heritage of the Sioux.djvu/300

THE HERITAGE OF THE SIOUX the Frying-Pan. These were inclined to be peevish over their hurts and to nurse them in sullen silence while Luck, having a rudimentary knowledge of medicine and surgery, gave them what first-aid treatment was possible.

Applehead, having plenty of reasons for avoiding publicity, had gone into retirement in the shade of a clump of brush, with Lite to keep him company while he smoked a meditative pipe or two and studied the puzzle of Ramon's probable whereabouts.

"Can't trust a Navvy," He muttered in a discreet undertone to Lite. "I've fit 'em b'fore now, 'n' I know. 'N' you kin be dang sure they ain't fergot the times I've fit 'em, neither! There's bucks millin' around here that's jes' achin' fer a chanst at me, t' pay up fer some I've killed off when I was shurf 'n' b'fore. So you keep 'n eye peeled, Lite, whilst I think out this yere dang move uh Ramon's. 'N' if you see anybody sneakin' up on me, you git him. I cain't watch Nawvies 'n' mill things over in m' haid at the same time."

Lite grinned and wriggled over so that his back 288