Test Bank For Human Resource Management 14Th Edition by Mondy Martocchio Isbn 9780133848809 0133848809 Full Chapter PDF
Test Bank For Human Resource Management 14Th Edition by Mondy Martocchio Isbn 9780133848809 0133848809 Full Chapter PDF
Test Bank For Human Resource Management 14Th Edition by Mondy Martocchio Isbn 9780133848809 0133848809 Full Chapter PDF
Test |Bank:
https://testbankpack.com/p/test-bank-for-human-resource-management-14th-edition-by-
mondy-martocchio-isbn-9780133848809-0133848809/
1) Which Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that "no person shall be deprived of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of the law"?
A) First Amendment
B) Fifth Amendment
C) Tenth Amendment
D) Thirteenth Amendment
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (ratified in 1791) states that "no
person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of the law." The
Thirteenth Amendment (1865) outlawed slavery, and courts have held that it bars racial
discrimination.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
2) The Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawed slavery, and courts have held
that it bars racial discrimination.
A) Fifth
B) Tenth
C) Thirteenth
D) Fourteenth
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The Thirteenth Amendment (1865) outlawed slavery, and courts have held that
it bars racial discrimination. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (ratified in 1791)
states that "no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of the
law."
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
3) The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution addresses the subject of .
A) due process
B) slavery
C) private property
D) trial by jury
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and
courts have held that it bars racial discrimination.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
4) The gives all persons the same right to make and enforce contracts and to benefit
from the laws of the land.
A) Fifth Amendment
B) Civil Rights Act of 1866
C) Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
D) Thirteenth Amendment
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The Civil Rights Act of 1866 gives all persons the same right to make and
enforce contracts and to benefit from U.S. laws. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
(ratified in 1791) states that "no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without
due process of the law." The Thirteenth Amendment (1865) outlawed slavery, and courts have
held that it bars racial discrimination. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act states that
employers cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
5) Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act explicitly prohibits employers from discrimination
based on all of the following characteristics EXCEPT .
A) race
B) religion
C) color
D) sexual orientation
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act states that an employer cannot
discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Title VII bars
discrimination on the part of most employers both public and private with 15 or more
employees. Sexual orientation is not directly addressed under the law.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
6) According to Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which of the following employers
would be legally allowed to refuse employment to an individual based on race, religion, or
sex? A) a state agency with 65 employees
B) a medical office with 25 employees C)
a local restaurant with 10 employees D) a
department store with 100 employees
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Title VII bars discrimination on the part of most employers, including all public
or private employers of 15 or more persons. It also covers all private and public educational
institutions, the federal government, and state and local governments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
7) Which legislation was responsible for the creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission?
A) Equal Pay Act of 1963
B) Civil Rights Act of 1866
C) Executive Orders 11246 and 11375
D) Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights
Act Answer: D
Explanation: D) Title VII established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
to administer and enforce the Civil Rights law at work. The commission itself consists of five
members appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. Executive
Orders 11246 and 11375 established the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
11) Which of the following requires equal pay for equal work regardless of sex?
A) Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
B) Equal Pay Act of 1963
C) Pay Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
D) Civil Rights Act of 1991
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Under the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (amended in 1972), it is unlawful to
discriminate in pay on the basis of sex when jobs involve equal work; require equivalent
AACSBs, effort, and responsibility; and are performed under similar working conditions.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
12) When companies utilize , they take steps to eliminate the present effects of past
discrimination.
A) affirmative action
B) executive orders
C) rehabilitation
D) equal pay
rules Answer: A
Explanation: A) Affirmative action refers to steps that are taken for the purpose of eliminating
the present effects of past discrimination. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 requires employers to pay
equal pay for equal work, and the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires employers with
federal contracts of more than $2,500 to take affirmative action in employing disabled persons.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
13) Which of the following is responsible for implementing Executive Orders 11246 and
11375 that were issued by the Johnson administration?
A) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
B) Pension Benefits Guarantee Corporation
C) Occupational Safety and Health Administration
D) Office of Federal Contract Compliance
Programs Answer: D
Explanation: D) The Johnson administration (1963-1969) issued Executive Orders 11246 and
11375 which didn't just ban discrimination but also required that government contractors with
contracts of over $50,000 and 50 or more employees take affirmative action to ensure
employment opportunity for those who may have suffered past discrimination. These orders
also established the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to implement
the orders and ensure compliance.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
14) Which of the following factors is NOT an acceptable basis for different pay for equal work
under the Equal Pay Act of 1963?
A) gender
B) seniority
C) production quality
D) production
quantity Answer: A
Explanation: A) Under the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (amended in 1972), it is unlawful to
discriminate in pay on the basis of sex when jobs involve equal work; require equivalent
AACSBs, effort, and responsibility; and are performed under similar working conditions. Pay
differences derived from seniority systems, merit systems, and systems that measure earnings by
production quantity or quality or from any factor other than sex do not violate the act.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
15) Paul is a 49-year-old American of Anglo-Saxon descent. What legislation is most likely
intended to protect Paul from discrimination?
A) Executive Order 11375
B) Equal Pay Act of 1963
C) Executive Order 11246
D) Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967 Answer: D
Explanation: D) The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) made it unlawful
to discriminate against employees or applicants who are between 40 and 65 years of age.
Executive Orders 11246 and 11375 require government contractors to take affirmative action,
and the Equal Pay Act made it unlawful to discriminate in pay based on the employee's gender.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of knowledge
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
18) Which of the following refers to highly recommended procedures issued by federal agencies
regarding employee selection and record keeping?
A) job specifications B)
employment metrics C)
process charts
D) uniform
guidelines Answer: D
Explanation: D) Uniform guidelines are issued by federal agencies charged with ensuring
compliance with equal employment federal legislation explaining recommended employer
procedures for complying with the law. They set forth "highly recommended" procedures
regarding things like employee selection and record keeping. Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
19) Which of the following does NOT participate in the issuance of
uniform guidelines? A) Department of Labor
B) Better Business
Bureau C) Department of
Justice D) Civil Service
Commission Answer: B
Explanation: B) The EEOC, Civil Service Commission, Department of Labor, and
Department of Justice together issued uniform guidelines. These set forth "highly
recommended" procedures regarding things like employee selection and record keeping.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
20) Uniform guidelines from the EEOC are recommended for employers to use in matters
regarding all of the following EXCEPT _.
A) employee selection
B) record keeping
C) sexual harassment
D) psychological
testing Answer: D
Explanation: D) The EEOC, Civil Service Commission, Department of Labor, and Department
of Justice together issue uniform guidelines. These set forth "highly recommended"
procedures regarding things like employee selection and record keeping. The American
Psychological Association has its own non-legally binding Standards for Educational and
Psychological Testing.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
21) Which Supreme Court case was used to define unfair discrimination in conjunction with
EEO laws?
A) Brown v. Board of Education B)
Griggs v. Duke Power Company C)
West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish D)
Abington School District v.
Schempp Answer: B
Explanation: B) Griggs v. Duke Power Company was a landmark Supreme Court case used to
define unfair discrimination as put forth in EEO laws such as Title VII. The Court ruled that
employment practices must be job related and that discrimination does not have to be overt to be
illegal.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
22) In Griggs v. Duke Power Company, Griggs sued the power company because it required coal
handlers to be high school graduates. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Griggs because
.
A) high school diplomas were not related to success as a coal
handler B) Duke Power Company intentionally discriminated
based on race C) no business necessity existed for Duke Power
Company D) Title VII forbids job
testing Answer: A
Explanation: A) The Court ruled in favor of Griggs because having a high school diploma was
not relevant to the job of coal handler. The Court held that an employment practice must be job
related if it has an unequal impact on members of a protected class.
Difficulty: Hard
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
25) Under the principles established by Griggs v. Duke Power Company, _ can be used
as a defense for any existing program that has adverse impact.
A) occupational qualification
B) business necessity
C) affirmative action
D) burden of proof
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Business necessity is the defense for any existing program that has adverse
impact according to Griggs. The court did not define business necessity. Difficulty:
Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
26) Which court case provided details regarding how employers could validate the
relationship between screening tools and job performance?
A) West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish
B) Albemarle Paper Company v. Moody
C) Griggs v. Duke Power Company
D) Burlington Industries v.
Ellerth Answer: B
Explanation: B) In the Albemarle case, the Court provided more details on how employers
could prove that tests or other screening tools relate to job performance. For example, the Court
said that if an employer wants to test candidates for a job, then the employer should first clearly
document and understand the job's duties and responsibilities.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
27) Under the Civil Rights Act of 1991, once a plaintiff shows disparate impact, who has
the burden of proving that the challenged practice is job related?
A) employee
B) employer
C) judge
D) EEOC
Answer: B
Explanation: B) According to the Civil Rights Act of 1991, once an aggrieved applicant or
employee demonstrates that an employment practice (such as "must lift 100 pounds") has a
disparate (or "adverse") impact on a particular group, then the burden of proof shifts to the
employer, who must show that the challenged practice is job related.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
28) According to the Civil Rights Act of 1991, an employee who claims intentional
discrimination can sue for all of the following EXCEPT .
A) back pay
B) job reinstatement
C) compensatory damages
D) substantive
consolidation Answer: D
Explanation: D) According to the Civil Rights Act of 1991, an employee who claims intentional
discrimination can sue for back pay, attorneys' fees, court costs, job reinstatement, punitive
damages, and compensatory damages. Substantive consolidation is a legal term referring to debt
consolidation.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
29) Race, color, religion, sex, or national origin is a motivating factor in a termination, but the
employee would have been terminated for failure to perform anyway. Which of the following
most likely exists in this situation?
A) mixed motive B)
disparate impact C)
liability defense D)
burden of proof
Answer: A
Explanation: A) An unlawful employment practice is established when the complaining party
demonstrates that race, color, religion, sex, or national origin was a motivating factor for any
employment practice, even though other factors also motivated the practice. Some employers in
so-called "mixed motive" cases had taken the position that even though their actions were
discriminatory, other factors like the employee's dubious behavior made the job action
acceptable. Under CRA 1991, an employer cannot avoid liability by proving it would have
taken the same action—such as terminating someone—even without the discriminatory motive.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of knowledge
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
30) Which of the following requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for
disabled employees?
A) Civil Rights Act of 1991
B) Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
C) Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973
D) Disability Discrimination in Employment Act of
1967 Answer: B
Explanation: B) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibits employment
discrimination against qualified disabled individuals. It also says employers must make
"reasonable accommodations" for physical or mental limitations unless doing so imposes
an "undue hardship" on the business.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 2
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
31) According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, which of the following would NOT
be considered a disability?
A) cosmetic disfigurement
B) anatomical loss
C) pyromania
D) AIDS
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The ADA specifies conditions that it does not regard as disabilities, including
homosexuality, bisexuality, voyeurism, compulsive gambling, pyromania, and certain disorders
resulting from the current illegal use of drugs. The EEOC's position is that the ADA prohibits
discriminating against people with HIV/AIDS.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Learning Outcome: Summarize the nature and effects of equal employment opportunity laws
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“Honored by fools!” growled Roland.
“Honored by the wisest men in college! Honored by every one! If you
had seen every person in that great crowd on the campus rise when
his name was spoken by the historian——”
“I did see it, and then I got away.”
“Then you were there? But you were not in your place.”
“If I had been, they would have seen that one college man did not
rise when Merriwell’s name was called.”
“And you would have brought on yourself the scorn of every one.
Can’t you see that by his generosity, his fine character, and
manliness, he has risen far above you?”
“No! I see that he has a trick of fooling everybody but me. He can
make his enemies forget that they were once enemies, but I am not
like the others. I want to tell you something, Oll. You think Merriwell
has triumphed, but you are wrong. I am the one who has triumphed,
though no one save myself knows it. Some time Merriwell shall
know, and then he will realize that one of his enemies was more than
a match for him.”
“What do you mean?” asked Oliver, amazed. “Are you crazy?”
“Never mind what I mean, but I speak the truth. I have triumphed,
and Merriwell is my victim. I’ll talk no more about it, so you may as
well close your face.”
And Oliver could get nothing further from his brother.
CHAPTER VII.
THE END COMES.
The day of graduation came. The sun shone bright and clear on this
great day in the life of Frank Merriwell, but still that feeling of
sadness was lingering in his heart, for he felt that he was bidding
farewell to his dear home.
Frank had competed to be a Townsend teacher, and he had been
chosen one of the fortunate six who were to speak for the DeForest
gold medal.
Thus it happened that he was given little time for thought and little in
which to see his friends, all of whom were eager to be in his
company.
Had he known that the oilskin envelope in his possession contained
nothing but blank paper it is not probable he could have spoken as
brilliantly as he did.
When the speaking was over it was generally conceded that the
handsome medal must go to Merriwell.
The faculty adjourned to the Treasury building, and there Frank was
awarded the splendid prize. Each member of the faculty shook his
hand in turn and spoke some word of praise to him. They looked on
him lovingly, for they knew that he had done more to raise the
standard of college life than any other student in the country.
Frank was on his way to his room when he almost collided with
Roland Packard.
Packard had been drinking heavily, and he stopped, his lip curling in
a scornful sneer.
“You think you’re it, Merriwell,” he said, in a tone of great contempt;
“but, if you only knew it, you are the biggest fool alive.”
Frank had no desire to exchange words with the fellow.
“You’re drunk, Packard,” he said quietly.
“You’re a liar, Merriwell!” snarled Packard, who seemed not to have a
single remnant of reason left.
Frank was not in the habit of taking the lie from anybody, but now,
seeing Packard’s arm in a sling, he did not heed the fellow’s insult.
“Your friends think you’re a great gun,” Roland went on; “but you
really are mighty small potatoes. Won the DeForest prize, did you?
Well, you may have to pawn it soon to get bread to keep you from
starving!”
This did not have the effect Roland had fancied it might, which
angered him to a still further expression of rage.
“Oh, you’re mighty cool; but you won’t be so cool when you find
you’re a beggar! And you are! I know what I’m talking about. You will
find it out in time, and I want to tell you now that it is I—I, Roland
Packard, whom you despise, who has made you a beggar! Don’t
forget it!”
He wheeled and walked swiftly away.
Frank stood still and looked after the fellow.
“I wonder what he meant,” Merry muttered, a feeling of uneasiness in
his breast. “Is he plumb daffy? I know he’s pretty drunk, but still it
seems that he must have some reason left.”
Frank was troubled despite himself, and he hurried to his room,
where he made sure the oilskin envelope was still safe in his
possession.
Packard had hurried away to drink still more. Already he was half-
crazed by liquor, but he felt consumed by a burning fire that called
for more, more, more.
The afternoon of graduation-day came and saw all graduating
students in caps and gowns, headed by the faculty, likewise garbed,
march to the music of a band out of the campus and down Elm
Street to the green, which they crossed, turning up Chapel Street to
Vanderbilt. The gates of Vanderbilt are opened but once a year,
always on this occasion, and through the gates they marched, under
the arch and across the campus. The chapel was entered, and then
came the last solemn ceremony of conferring the degrees.
Frank thrilled when he stood up to receive his sheepskin. There was
a choking in his throat, his sensation was a mingled feeling of joy
and sorrow that was like exquisite pain. His face was pale as marble.
When the certificate was placed in his hand he felt that it was the
document that divorced him from dear old Yale, and he sat down
with his teeth clenched to hold back the moan that sought vent.
It was over!
That afternoon a man was seen reeling over the Barnesville bridge.
He was intoxicated, and he seemed to fancy he was pursued by an
enemy or enemies who sought his life. Filled with mad terror, he
climbed upon the railing not far from the eastern end of the bridge
and flung himself headlong into the river.
Several persons had seen this crazy act, and they rushed to rescue
him, if possible. Two men pulled out in a boat toward the spot where
he had last been seen. As they pulled he rose to the surface, made a
few feeble splashes, and sank.
One of the men stripped off his coat and plunged in. He brought the
drowning fellow up, helped the other man get him into the boat,
crawled in himself, and they pulled ashore.
On the shore men worked nearly an hour over the poor wretch, but
all their efforts were unavailing. He was dead. In his pocket they
found some letters, which told them he was a student and that his
name was Roland Packard.
And thus it came about that in the pocket of his dead brother Oliver
Packard found another envelope that looked exactly like the one
Roland had snatched from Merriwell. He was astonished and
puzzled, but he took it to Merriwell.
“One of them must contain the message, Merriwell,” said Oliver,
whose face was marked with deep sorrow.
“To-morrow will tell,” said Frank, “for then I will open them both.” He
took Oliver’s hand. “I am very sorry, Packard,” he said.
“It is for the best,” declared Oliver; but his chin quivered as he turned
away.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE MESSAGE STOLEN AGAIN.
Before them lay the mighty Rockies, rising range on range, till their
glittering, snow-capped summits pressed the sky. Wild and
picturesque and awe-inspiring was the scene. They were in the foot-
hills, and the country was rough and broken.
Frank had drawn rein at the mouth of what seemed to be a small
valley. He was covered with dust, and the hardy mustang he
bestrode showed signs of weariness.
Merriwell was clothed to rough it, having exchanged the garments of
the cities and towns for those more suited to the latter stages of his
search for the cabin of Juan Delores. On his head was a wide-
brimmed felt hat, and he wore a woolen shirt, with a side collar and a
flowing tie, a cartridge-belt about his waist, and leather leggings
covered his trousers nearly to his thighs. There were spurs on the
heels of his boots. His coat he had stripped off, for the day was
warm to an uncomfortable degree.
A Winchester repeating rifle was slung at the pommel of Merry’s
saddle, and a pair of long-barreled revolvers rested in the holsters on
his hips. Taken altogether, he looked like a young man who had
made preparations for almost anything he might encounter.
Bart Hodge, similarly mounted and dressed, had drawn up beside
Frank.
Despite their attire, there was something in the appearance of the
two young men that marked them as belonging to “the tenderfoot
breed.” In other words, the experienced eye would have discovered
at a glance that they were Easterners.
A cool breeze came down the valley, bearing with it a pleasant odor
of wild growing things.
The faces of both lads, lately fresh from college, had been burned
and blistered by the hot suns and searing winds.
“It’s remarkable,” said Frank, “that the people at Urmiston know
Delores, know he lives somewhere in this vicinity, yet not one of
them could give us accurate directions to reach his cabin.”
“Hanged remarkable!” growled Bart. “This is the third day we have
spent in hunting for his old place, and we’ve not even found a clue to
it.”
Merry nodded, frowning beneath the wide brim of his hat.
“We may have passed and repassed it,” he said. “There are plenty of
places where cabins could be hidden in these valleys.”
“That’s right. What are we to do?”
“Keep on hunting.”
“It’s rather tiresome.”
“I shall stick to it till I find the cabin of Delores, if it takes a year!”
exclaimed Frank grimly.
Bart knew he would do exactly as he said.
“Perhaps we may be disappointed when we do find it.”
“At least, I should be able to learn if my father is dead, and where he
is buried.”
“But the message——”
“I have hopes that I may learn the secret of that, also. It may be that
he did not trust it alone to that one document.”
“It’s getting late. What are we to do now? Shall we explore this valley
to-night, or wait till morning?”
Little of the valley could be seen through the narrow pass, and that
little seemed to promise that it led onward far into the hills. After a
moment Frank answered:
“We’ll ride forward and see if we can get a look into it.”
He started onward, and Bart followed, but they had proceeded only a
short distance when they were startled to see, sitting on a boulder at
one side of the pass, a strange figure. At first it was hard to make out
whether it was man or woman, but, as they drew nearer, it
straightened up and revealed, peering from the folds of a dirty red
blanket, the wrinkled and gnarled face of an old Indian. A pair of
beady black eyes were steadily regarding the two young men.
“Watch him, Merry,” cautioned Bart, in a low tone. “These half-
civilized red dogs are treacherous.”
The Indian did not stir as they approached. Beside him, leaning
against the boulder, was a handsome rifle. He did not touch the
weapon.
“Hello, chief,” said Frank, addressing the old man in a manner he
knew was flattering to some redskins, as he drew up.
“How, how,” grunted the old fellow, in answer.
“Are you acquainted in this vicinity?”
“Ak-waint?” said the old man. “No savvy.”
“Are you familiar with the country?”
“Fam-mil? What him?”
“Have you been all round every place here?” asked Merry, with a
sweep of his arm, using the simplest words he could command.
“Heap been all over,” was the assurance.
“Know Juan Delores?”
“Him don’t live round here.”
The answer was prompt enough—a trifle too prompt, Frank fancied.
“Doesn’t?” said Merry. “Where does he live?”
“Heap long way off there,” and the redskin pointed to the north.
“Are you sure?”
“Heap sure.”
“How far? How many miles?”
“Two time ten.”
“Twenty?”
The old fellow grunted an affirmative.
“Do you know the way to his place?”
Another affirmative grunt.
“Can you guide us there?”
“No time.”
“We will pay you well.”
“No time.”
“I will give you fifty dollars to guide us to the cabin of Juan Delores.”
“No time.”
“A hundred dollars.”
“No time.”
“Confound him!” growled Hodge angrily. “Money is no object to him.
It’s likely he doesn’t know the value of money. Now, if you had a
quart of whisky to offer him, Merriwell, you might get him to do the
job.”
“I will give you a new blanket and a rifle,” promised Merry.
“Got blanket an’ rifle,” said the old Indian.
“I will give you a good horse.”
“Got heap good horse.”
“What haven’t you got that you want?”
“No want nothin’.”
“Will you tell us how to get to the cabin of Delores?”
“Go there two time ten mile, find stream, go up him to spring, take
trail from spring; it make you come to where Juan he live.”
Merriwell was not at all satisfied with these directions. There was
something in the manner of the old redskin that seemed to arouse
his suspicions and make him feel that he was being deceived. Of a
sudden Frank asked:
“Who lives in this valley?”
The old man shook his head.
“No know,” he said. “Wolf, bear, mebbe.”
“That’s not what I mean. Is there a white man who lives in this
valley?”
Again a shake of the head.
“Wolf, bear, that all. No; big mount’n-lion—him there. Him kill hunter
—one, two, t’ree, four hunter—what come for him. Him vely bad lion
—heap bad.”
Frank was watching the man closely.
“That’s just what I’m looking for!” he exclaimed, as if delighted. “I
want to shoot a mountain-lion.”
“You no can shoot him. Big hunter try—no do it. Him kill you heap
quick, you go in there.”
“He is trying to frighten us so we’ll not go into the valley,” thought
Frank. Aloud he said:
“That’s all right; I’ll take chances. I reckon the two of us will be too
much for Mr. Lion.”
“White boy much foolish,” declared the old redskin grimly. “Make big
supper for lion. Lion him like white man for supper.”
“And I’ll have the pelt of that lion just as sure as I live,” said Merry, as
if in sudden determination. “Come on, Bart!”
The old Indian rose quickly as they were about to start forward.
“Stop!” he cried. “Ole Joe Crowfoot him tell you truth. If you go in
there you never come back some more. Ole Joe Crowfoot him good
Injun—him like white man heap much. No want to see um hurt. Tell
um to stay back.”
The old savage seemed deeply in earnest now, but that earnestness
was something that added to Frank’s suspicions and made him all
the more determined to go on.
“That’s all right,” said Merry, with a grim smile. “It’s kind of you to
take so much interest in us, but we’re going after your heap bad lion,
and we’ll have his pelt.”
“Night come soon,” said the Indian, with a motion toward the range
on range of mountains rising to the westward. “Then lion him crouch
and spring. Him git you quick.”
“We’ll see. If you wait round here long enough we’ll show you the
pelt of your bad lion when we come back.”
“No come back,” declared Old Joe Crowfoot, solemnly. “No see you
some more. By-by.”
An expression of deep sadness and regret was on his wrinkled old
face as he uttered the words. Merry laughed lightly, and they rode
past him and headed onward into the valley.
“He was very anxious to stop us,” said Hodge.
“That’s right,” nodded Frank. “He was altogether too anxious. As
soon as I tumbled to that I decided to take a look into the valley. Do
you know, we stumbled on the entrance to this valley by accident. I
fancy we might search a week for it, if we were to go away now,
without finding it.”
“I was thinking of that,” said Bart. “It might puzzle us to find it again.
Perhaps that old duffer was counting on that. Those red dogs are
treacherous, and——”
They heard a sharp cry behind them. Whirling in the saddle, Frank
saw the old Indian standing with the butt of his rifle pressed against
his shoulder.
The muzzle on the rifle was turned directly toward Frank, and plainly
the redskin was on the point of pressing the trigger.
Frank knew he was in deadly peril, and he would have attempted to
fling himself from the saddle but for something else he saw.
On a mass of jagged rocks behind the Indian and about twenty feet
above his head had appeared a boy. Not over thirteen years of age
was the lad, whose curly, dark hair fell upon his shoulders. He was
dressed in fanciful garments, like those worn by a young Mexican
lad, and the bright colors of his clothes made him a picturesque
figure.
Plainly it was from his lips that the cry had issued.
In his hand the boy held a stone as large as a man’s fist, and even
as Merry turned he hurled the stone. Straight through the air whizzed
the missile, striking the barrel of the old Indian’s rifle.
Smoke belched from the muzzle of the weapon and the crags flung
back the sound of the report, but the bullet flew wild.
Frank Merriwell’s life had been saved by the stone thrown by the
strange boy.
With an exclamation of rage, Hodge snatched up his rifle and reined
his mount round to take a shot at the redskin, who had wheeled
instantly and was clambering up the rocks toward the boy, as if bent
on murder.
“Soak him, Merry!” panted Bart.
Frank’s first impulse was to shoot, but he quickly saw that he was in
no further danger just then, and he had no desire to shed human
blood unless compelled to do so.
Bart’s rifle rose, but Merry thrust the muzzle aside just as the
weapon spoke, and the bullet flattened on the rocks.
“Why did you do that?” roared Hodge, in amazement and anger.
“Can’t you see! That red devil is going to murder the kid!”
It did seem that the Indian meant the boy harm, and Merry shouted:
“If you put a hand on that boy I’ll bore you!”
At the same time he held his own rifle ready for instant use.