"Hey, boss, when is church out? My dinner is cooked an' waitin' fer the
two boys to set up de tables."

At that everyone hurried out that the cook might not be delayed in his
programme of feeding so many hungry people.

"Take Mike into the office and tell him all you have seen since you have
been here," suggested Mr. Latimer to the children.

While the children danced over the frozen ground showing the Indian the
way to the office, the elders gathered in the Starr's log hut and
discussed the value of the trapper.

"Everybody knows Mike for hundreds of miles around this part of the
country, and he knows every foot of ground, the depth of waters, the
bog-lands, and the haunts of wild animals. He is as true and honorable
as any white man, and more trustworthy than many," explained Mr. Starr.

"He is almost too old a man to continue trapping, I should think,"
remarked Mr. Latimer. "Why, he must be almost seventy years old."

"More than that, I think," replied Mr. Starr.

"You never can tell an Indian's age after a certain period. He may be a
hundred and fifty and he would not show it any more than to-day," said
Mrs. Latimer.

"Well, the one essential thing is that he is perfectly capable and agile
enough to guard the children in their wanderings," added Mrs. Starr, who
was greatly relieved to have such a treasure.

"If he would consent to give up trapping this winter, I would willingly
pay him more than he will get out of any pelts he might get. And life
here would be much easier for him without being too civilized," said Mr.
Starr.

"Well, we'll let him try it for a time and perhaps he will like the
children enough to wish to remain for the season," suggested Mr.
Latimer.

Meanwhile, the children were having a glorious time with their new
friend and guardian. The twins were enchanted to be living with a real,
true Indian, and Babs seemed to take a violent fancy to the long haired
old man.

Mike was like one of the children, telling them Indian legends in his
own queer English, which Paul called "Pidgin English." The afternoon
passed quickly for the children and they were all amazed when the gong
banged for supper.

The following day while the children were at school, Mike looked about
the camp with curiosity and then walked away to see how much timber the
men had cut. Unknown to anyone, Babs quietly crept after her new
play-fellow, and soon was out of sight of the camp.

Babs was past three years and