“How are you, Colonel?” said Archie, as sober as a judge.

“I can not complain of my health,” replied Arthur, still holding Frank’s hand with his right, while he extended his left to Archie, in much the same manner that a monarch might have given his hand to a kneeling subject.  “The musket-ball that Osceola sent through my shoulder sometimes troubles me a little; but I am so accustomed to wounds that I scarcely mind it.”

“How do you like California,” inquired Frank, thinking that he ought to say something.

“O, I like the country well enough; but belonging, as I do, to one of the oldest and wealthiest families of the State of Kentucky, I can find no congenial society among these backwoodsmen.”

Frank had no reply to make to this declaration.  That one remark had revealed as much of the character of Arthur Vane as he cared to become acquainted with.  The latter evidently looked upon himself as something better than the common herd of mankind, and Frank wondered why he did not stay at home, if he could find no pleasure in the society of the boys of that country.

“I have heard of you,” continued Arthur, loftily; “and I understand that you are looked upon as a hero in this settlement.”

“I do not claim the honor,” modestly replied Frank.

“I have always observed,” the visitor went on to say, “that the ideas which ignorant people entertain concerning heroes are ludicrous in the extreme.  Now, I have met with more adventures than generally fall to the lot of mortals; but, being a modest young man, I have never allowed any one to apply that name to me.  I have been in battles—­desperate battles.  I have seen the cheek of the bravest blanched with terror; but I never flinched.  Twice have I been a prisoner in the hands of the Indians, and once I was bound to the stake.  I have whipped a grizzly bear in a fair fight, with no weapon but my knife, and I can show seven honorable scars, made by as many bullets, which I carry in my body to-day.”

Here Arthur stopped to take breath, and looked at his auditors as if waiting for applause.  Frank and Archie had nothing to say, but Johnny observed: 

“You have seen some rough times for one of your age.”

“Rough!” repeated Arthur, with evident disgust.  “Don’t use such words—­they are so vulgar.  Thrilling, or exciting, would sound much better.”

“I stand corrected,” remarked Johnny, very gravely, while Archie coughed, and Frank turned away his head to conceal his laughter.

“I can not begin to convey to you even a slight idea of what I have endured,” said Arthur, as if nothing had happened.  “It is true that I am young in years, but I am old in experience.  I have known every variety of danger incident to a reckless and roving life.  I have skirmished with Arabs on the burning sands of Patagonia; have hunted the ferocious polar bear amid the icebergs of India; have followed lions and tigers through the jungles and forests of Europe; have risked my life in four different battles with the Algerines, and, on one occasion, was captured by those murderous villains.  If adventures make the hero, I can certainly lay claim to that honor as well as anybody.”