"Strong Heart him guess," nodded Joe, with something like a sly smile.
"You villain! And I'll wager you got away with your ill-gotten spoils."
"Heap do so," said Joe. "Have some firewater. Find one, two, three, four crooked paleface follow to kill and rob. Let firewater 'lone till fool crooked palefaces so um no follow some more. Then go safe place drink firewater a heap."
"You've been drunk, too!" cried Merry.
"Mebbe so," admitted the Indian. "White man firewater heap good while um last; heap bad when um gone. Make um feel much glad at first, then much sorry little time after."
Frank laughed heartily at the queer manner of the old Indian as he said this.
"I suppose that's about right," he said. "I've never tried it to find out."
"Strong Heart him no try firewater?" exclaimed Joe, in surprise. "Crowfoot him think all paleface drink the firewater."
"Well, here is one who doesn't. I've seen too much trouble come from the stuff."