“Huh! Indians!” snorted Robert. “We aren’t afraid of Indians! Are we, Deerfoot?” and he slapped that surprised brave heartily on the back.
“No afraid,” replied Deerfoot seriously, looking in astonishment at his young friend. He never had become used to these outbursts of hilarity on Robert’s part and he did not know just what to make of them.
“You’re glad you’re going, too, aren’t you?” Robert insisted.
“Yes, me glad,” answered Deerfoot, without changing the expression of his face or the tone of his voice.
“You’re hopeless, Deerfoot,” exclaimed Robert laughing. “You show about as much enthusiasm as a piece of rock.”
“He doesn’t believe in wasting his strength and breath perhaps,” suggested Joseph. “When the time comes he’ll be in the thick of things, though, you may be sure of that.”
“I know it,” said Robert. “When he does a thing or says a thing he means it. That’s more than I can say sometimes.”
“We won’t worry about you, I guess, Bob,” laughed Walt. “I know who can be depended upon. That’s the reason I asked you to go with us.”
“And now I’m going to leave you,” he added. “Don’t forget tomorrow. We’ll meet at the swimming hole at daybreak. Good night.”
“Good night,” replied Joseph, Robert and Deerfoot together, and a moment later Walt disappeared in the darkness.