m fit for
nothing but to sit at the entrance of the tepee when the sun's warm, or
to lie on the pile of skins when the weather 's bad, and eat between
times? Oh, but that old woman can cook things!" And indeed the old
squaw, who was a person of position and influence, took care that he
had plenty of food and warmth, and saw to it that no one molested him,
regarding even Peter with suspicion. But the rest of the tribe looked
upon him merely as an appanage of Peter Many-Names, and not a
particularly creditable one at that.

Peter was enjoying himself thoroughly. The lean and haughty young
braves, who looked down upon the white boy, were glad of his silent
company; and the elders considered him a promising youth. While poor
Dick lay weak and restive in the old squaw's wigwam, Peter was ruffling
about the camp with a dozen arrogant young rascals at his tail. He was
pre-eminently skilful as a hunter, and he added many ponies to the
wealth of his host--ponies which were certainly never taken in trade
for other articles, excepting probably an occasional bullet, or no less
deadly arrows. In the genial warmth of admiration Peter expanded
visibly in more respects than one. While poor Dick chafed under the
knowledge that he was neither needed nor respected.

But in time a better frame of mind came to him. "How can I win
respect, even the respect of untaught Indians," he thought, "when I
don't deserve it? Even by their standards, I 'm not of much account.
Why, I don't even respect myself." For a time he was downcast and
discouraged, but as strength of body increased under the old squaw's
care, strength of soul increased also. And he resolved that in future
he would think less of his pleasure and more of his duty, in whatever
way of life his lot should be cast.

Some of this passive resignation passed off with his weakness; and he
foresaw more clearly that his whole life might be passed in struggling
against just such temptations as this one to which he had yielded. But
by then the keen, clean prairie had begun to do its work, and he faced
his future resolutely. With surprising wisdom he did not make many
far-reaching and likely-to-be-broken resolves. "I will go back to
Stephanie as soon as I can," he thought; "and after that I will settle
down to any work I find, as near to her as possible. At present, this
is enough to think of."

So, with unusual patience, he set himself to wait for the return of
strength and