ed magician; that it was he
probably who had enticed the other girls away; and that, perhaps, if I
went back, he would kill and eat me. I knew that this was not true, or
why had he not done so at first, had he wished it?

"Since then, I have been longing to go back to see the white man; but I
found that a watch was kept on me. When I heard you, however, inquiring
for a white man, I at once thought that the stranger I had seen must be
the one you were in search of, and I resolved to help you to find him,
being assured that he is no magician."

"I have great hopes that he is the very man we are in search of,"
exclaimed Oliver, after Manita had finished her narrative, which took
much longer time to give than it has to describe, seeing that she had to
repeat it in a variety of ways before she was satisfied that her
listener understood what she said. She had brought a good supply of
provisions, and as Oliver hinted that he was getting very hungry,
somewhere about noon she guided the canoe towards the bank, where they
rested for awhile, and ate their food. They then paddled on again with
renewed vigour. Manita complimented Oliver on the way in which he
handled his paddle, and remarked that they were getting on much faster
than when she had gone up before. It was thus some time before evening
when she announced that they had arrived at the spot where she had
before landed. Having run the canoe close to the bank under a tree,
they secured it, and stepped on shore.

"We will take some provisions with us this time," she observed, "for
though I may kill some birds with my arrows, it will delay us to do so."

They set off at once, and made good progress before sunset, when, at
Oliver's suggestion, they both climbed up into a tree, in which he
formed a sort of platform, where she could sleep securely; he afterwards
making another for himself. They set off again at dawn, and Oliver,
helping Manita over the rough hills, to which he, a Devonshire lad, was
well accustomed, they made good progress. At last the clearing Manita
had described was reached, and they saw before them the white man
standing in front of his dwelling.

"There he is!" exclaimed Manita. "Oh, I am so glad to see him!" and she
bounded on ahead of Oliver. The recluse, for such he seemed, welcomed
Manita affectionately, but his gaze was turned towards Oliver. "Who are
you, young sir?" he exclaimed, looking from one to the other of his
visitors.

"Oliv