“Na-che says you know a heap about charms, Mr. Wee-tah!” exclaimed Jonas.

Wee-tah grinned affably.  “I stay,” he said.  “Only the whites have to hurry.  Good water hole right there.”  He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, then turned his pony and led the way a few hundred yards to a low outcropping of stones, the hollowed top of which held a few precious gallons of rain water.

“My Lordy!” exclaimed Jonas, as he and Enoch were hobbling their horses, “if I don’t have some charms and hoo-doos to put over on those Baptist folks back home!  Why, these Indians have got even a Georgia nigger beat for knowing the spirits.”

“Jonas, you’re an old fool, but I love you!” said Enoch.

Jonas chuckled, and hurried off to help Na-che with the supper.  The stunted cat’s claw and mesquite which grew here plentifully made possible a glorious fire that was most welcome, for the evening was cold.  Enoch undertook to keep the big blaze going while Wee-tah prepared a small fire at a little distance for cooking purposes.  After supper the two Indians and Jonas gathered round this while Enoch and Diana remained at what Jonas designated as the front room stove.

“What solitary trip was Wee-tah undertaking?” asked Enoch.  “Or mustn’t I inquire?”

“On one of the buttes in the canyon country,” replied Diana, “Wee-tah’s grandfather, a great chief, was killed, years ago.  Wee-tah is going up to that butte to pray for his little son who has never been born.”

“Ah!” said Enoch, and fell silent.  Diana, in her favorite attitude, hands clasping her knees, watched the fire.  At last Enoch roused himself.

“Shall you come to Washington this winter, Diana?”

“I ought to, but I may not.  I may go into the Havesupai country for two months, after you go East, and put Washington off until late spring.”

“Don’t fear that I shall disturb you, when you come, dear.”  Enoch looked at Diana with troubled eyes.

She looked at him, but said nothing, and again there was silence.  Enoch emptied his pipe and put it in his pocket.

“After you have finished this work for the President, then what, Diana?”

She shook her head.  “There is plenty of time to plan for that.  If I go into the angle of the children’s games and their possible relations to religious ceremonies, there’s no telling when I shall wind up!  Then there are their superstitions that careful study might separate clearly from their true spiritism.  The great danger in work like mine is that it is apt to grow academic.  In the pursuit of dry ethnological facts one forgets the artistry needed to preserve it and present it to the world.”

“Whew!” sighed Enoch.  “I’m afraid you’re a fearful highbrow, Diana!  Hello, Jonas, what can I do for you?”

“We all are going down the desert a piece with Wee-tah.  They’s a charm down there he knows about.  They think we’ll be gone about an hour.  But don’t worry about us.”