Grace, hearing the bear growl, sprang up and ran out. Her companions were not far behind her.
Sitting crouched over the campfire, which he had built, calmly cooking his breakfast, was the Indian, Willy Horse, wholly undisturbed by the uproar that his presence had created.
"Call off the bear!" commanded Grace sharply. "The man is our friend."
"He's a lazy good-for-nothin' and he's stole yer breakfast," protested the forest woman, as she headed off Henry and drove him back with sundry prods of her foot.
"Good morning, Mr. Horse," greeted Emma.
"Mornin'," answered the Indian briefly.
Grace by this time was shaking hands with him; then the Overland girls surrounded him and demanded to know why he had not been to see them before.
Emma started to tell Willy what a lot of trouble they had been in when Grace interjected a remark that caused Elfreda to wonder.
"Perhaps Willy Horse knows more about our late unpleasantnesses than you do, Emma," said Grace.
"Hello, old man. How are you?" cried Hippy, striding forward with outstretched hand.