"What were you doing in those days?" questioned Kenneth.
"Me business wuz always wid cattle. Sometoimes the Apaches would go off wid some o' me cattle."
"Did you ever get them back?" asked Esther.
"Sometoimes." He smoked in silence a few minutes.
"I understand the Apaches are still treacherous," she said.
Just then she felt Wathemah's hand on her arm.
"Wathemah Apache," he said. "He no bad. He good."
"Yes," she acknowledged, smiling, "you are getting to be a pretty good boy, dear." Her smile did more for the child than did the words.
"Pop," said Samuel, "them air Apaches we seen up canyon t'other day's ben skulkin' aroun'. Yer'd better carry a gun, schoolma'am."
Supper was now announced, and discussion of the Indians ceased. The younger children, joyfully anticipating the feast before them, had forgotten all their mother's preliminary instructions on etiquette at table, and there was a tumultuous scramble.