"Gentlemen," began Mr. Brown, "I have asked you all to come to my camp to-night to settle some questions, and, if possible, to find out what has been going on around here.
"As I have told you, two rather costly toys, belonging to my children, have been stolen. Eagle Feather's horse has been taken away. I know my children's toys have not been found. And I think, Eagle Feather, your horse is still missing?"
"Him no come back long time," said the Indian. "Stable all ready for him—good bed straw, hay to eat. He no come home. Me t'ink somebody keep him for himself."
"That's what we think, too, Eagle Feather," said Mr. Brown.
"Now there is one person I asked to come here to-night who is absent," he went on.
"Bixby," said others.
"I think we all mean the same man," said Mr. Brown.
"Now I have told you about this boy Tom, who was found by my children in a cave near the lake shore," he continued. "He was found crying, saying he was being stuck full of needles. I have not been able to get more than that out of him. He says Bixby made him take hold of two shiny balls, and then the needles pricked him. I have my own opinion of that, but I'll speak of that later.
"I asked Bixby here to-night, that we might talk to him. I find that he has a right to hire this boy to work for him, and under the law to keep him all Summer. So it seems that unless we can show that Bixby has treated Tom harshly he will have to go back."