tuneless quaver, and
shook her head doubtingly.

"_What!_ She don't _believe_ it!" Benny exclaimed to himself. "Don't
believe that _'Bijah_ can make _wigwams_! We'll show her!"

And he was so eager to be about it that he took leave directly of his
strange acquaintance, who seemed lost in reverie, and to have forgotten
him entirely.

When Mr. and Mrs. Briggs heard Benny's story of the poor Indian woman,
their excellent hearts were at once filled with compassion for so
forlorn a creature. Mr. Briggs had very radical theories about equal
mercy and justice for each member of the human race.

"It isn't likely," he often said, "that some have a right to be in this
world and others haven't;" and he immediately set himself to illustrate
his theories in the case of the Chetonquin.

Mrs. Briggs said there could be not doubt that she needed other things
besides wigwams, which conjecture was found to be sadly true upon
investigation. An attempt was made to put this last of the Chetonquins
into more comfortable quarters, but she received the suggestion with
dismay, and prayed so earnestly to be left on the spot she seemed to
think was like her own native forest, that it was decided to make her
as comfortable as possible there, since it was early summer and no harm
could come from exposure. When the weather was cold again, she would be
glad to be sheltered elsewhere. So Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, Grandma Potter
and 'Bijah, took care that she needed nothing, and left her to be happy
in her own way.

Her shattered mind, little by little, let go of everything save the
memories of her childhood. All the people of the neighboring region, old
and young, came to understand and respect the sorrows of the poor
creature they had talked of as a witch. But the most friendly people
seemed to disturb her--to break in upon her dreams--and children,
especially, were not allowed to visit her.

Benny could not forego, however, the pleasure he had promised himself,
of getting 'Bijah to help him make a fine wigwam in the woods, and
saying to old Winneenis--as she called herself--"There! what d'ye call
_that_? _There's_ a wigwam for ye, 'n me 'n 'Bijah _made_ it, too!"

Benny might make as many wigwams as he pleased, Mr. Briggs said, "but
he was not to go near or disturb old Winneenis."

One extremity of the island was in the vicinity of Grandma Potter's, and
Benny passed a good many days of his vacation at Grandma's. One day
Benny said to 'Bijah, "