ight.

"Isn't it pretty!" she exclaimed. "And it's asleep, too."

The Indian's eyes shone with pleasure as he watched the girl's interest
in the little child.

"White woman tak' care babby, eh?"

"You want us to keep it?" Jean asked.

"Ah-ha-ha. Wan moon, two moon, mebbe. Injun come bimeby."

Jean turned to her father, who had been standing silently near the door.

"May we keep it, daddy?"

"Ask Mammy," the Colonel replied. "If she is willing, I have no
objections. She is the only one in this house who knows how to look
after a baby."

"I'se willin', Cun'l," the old woman agreed. "It makes me t'ink of de
lil'l chile I los' long time ago in ol' Connec. Yes, I'se willin'."

The Indian understood, and smiled. He turned to go, but paused and
looked at Jean.

"White woman keep canoe, eh?" he queried.

"Oh, may I?" the girl eagerly asked. She had often longed for a canoe
to paddle along the shore and explore the various creeks.

"Ah-ha-ha. White woman paddle all sam' Injun bimeby. Me go now."

The Colonel pressed the Indian to stay until the storm was over, but
the native shook his head, and with another glance at the sleeping
child, he passed out into the night.

For about an hour the storm continued to rage. But the gleaming
lightning and the crashing thunder worried Old Mammy no longer. She
was completely engrossed in the little charge which had been so
unexpectedly committed to her care.

"I mus' take special care ob dis chile," she' said. "Mebbe it's one of
de Lo'd's angels, fo' wif Him it doan make no diff'rance what is de
colah of de skin. Dey's all His chillun, an' He lubs dem all alike.
Doan yo' nebber fo'git dat, Missie Jean. Dis may be one of de Lo'd's
angels undewares."

CHAPTER VIII

BENEATH THE SPREADING MAPLE

The little community of Loyal had most things in common, as is
generally the custom in pioneer settlements. All took to their hearts
the little Indian child, and felt somewhat responsible for its welfare.
It seemed to them an omen of good will, and they believed that so long
as it was with them they would not be disturbed by the Indians. Old
Mammy was very strong on this point, and was the one who first
suggested the idea.

"If a cat comes to yo' it's a sign of good luck," she declared. "Now,
we didn't send fo' dis chile; it jes came to us, so why shouldn't it
bring us better luck den a cat?"

The colored woman considered the baby her special property,