"Dat am de gospil truff," said Ike, "an' if he don't light out purty soon dar'll be a loose dog a-howlin' 'round, for I can't hold onter Maj much longer."
"My name Blanco. Me big Apache chief."
"Well, what do you want?" asked Sam.
"Me very good man."
"I am glad to hear it."
"Me and all my men, good friends to whites."
"And I am a good friend to the Indians; if you let me alone, I shall let you alone. Good-night," said Sam, hoping that the Indian might prove sensitive and take this as a hint to leave, but he had entirely mistaken his man.
"When sun come up then where you go?" asked the chief, with the same inquisitive manner.
At this juncture it struck Sam that he might be able not only to make these people his friends, but to utilize them in getting to his father, so he said in a kindlier tone than he had yet used:
"We are going to Hurley's Gulch."