left to the other the task of opening the conversation.

Dick felt somewhat at a loss; Roger had told him that the Indian
understood English perfectly well, though speaking it according to his
own taste, but he felt that his questions were too trivial to break the
massive silence with which the young savage surrounded himself. It was
the first time he had come into contact with that dignity which is not
the outcome of education, but which is a characteristic of some races.
Indians he had seen, but not such an Indian as this.

"You 're Peter, I suppose," he began at last, and then waited for some
confirmation of his words. But the other was raking among the wood
ashes with a little stick, and merely nodded again in answer, seeming
to think it a matter of entire indifference whatever Dick chose to
suppose. "When you 've been up to the house," continued Dick, "I want
to know if you 'll come with me after a brute of a fox that is taking
our poultry." It appeared better to put the matter briefly.

Peter Many-Names regarded him gravely still. He knew enough of the
mannerless ways of white folks not to be shocked at this abrupt
introduction of business. So after a few minutes' meditation, he
grunted agreement. "All right, I come," he said. Then he turned his
back calmly, and went on with his culinary operations. There was no
mistaking the hint, so Dick walked back to the homestead again.

Shortly after appeared Peter, with some fine fish, and a somewhat less
taciturn manner; and before an hour had passed, the two lads, some
provisions, guns, and an excited dog, were all on the trail of the fox.

The Indian strode on ahead with the dog straining in the leash, and
left to Dick their weapons and the food, which vexed him mightily. Nor
was his temper improved when he noticed that Peter carefully moderated
his pace from time to time as if out of consideration for his
companion's weaknesses. It is not pleasant to know that your comrade
can run twice as fast as you can, and to know that he knows it also.
He had always prided himself on his strength and fleetness, and to find
himself relegated to the position of follower and burden-bearer by the
first Indian into whose company he was thrown was a salutary lesson.

In this manner they proceeded for some two or three miles. Every now
and then Dick made valiant efforts to gain upon his companion, but
Peter, as if maliciously aware of it, always kept the same distance
ahe