"Makes me think of the time they cast me for the part of the famous Pocahontas in the college play of 'John Smith,'" said Black Bear. "That was some time—believe me! We made a barrel of money for the Athletic Association."
"Oh!" murmured Rose, "he talks—he talks just like Captain Ben—or anybody!"
"He doesn't talk like an Indian, that's so," whispered back Russ, quite as much amazed.
But Violet could not contain her curiosity politely. She came right out in the lantern-light and asked:
"Say, Mister Black Bear, are you a real Indian, or just a make-believe?"
"I am just as real an Indian, little girl, as you ever will see," replied the young chief, still rubbing the cream into his face and neck. "I'm a full-blood, sure-enough, honest-Injun Indian! You ask Mr. Scarbontiskil."
"But you're not savage!" said the amazed Vi. "Not as savage as you all looked when you were riding down on that cabin to-day. We saw you and we ran home again. We were scared."
"No. I'm pretty tame. I own an automobile and a talking-machine, and I sleep in a brass bed when I'm at home. But, you see, I work at being an Indian, because it pays me better than farming."
"Oh! Oh!" gasped Laddie. "Scalping people, and all that?"
"No. There is a law now against scalping folks," said Mr. Black Bear, smiling again. And now that he had got the yellow and red paint off his face his smile was very pleasant. "We all have to obey the law, you know."