water."

Nakanit was already running toward the slope, but Anne did not move; she
was still hungry and very thirsty, but too tired to walk, and as she
lay on the soft grass she began to dread the moment when the squaw might
start on again. It was not long before Nakanit returned. She brought
with her a cunningly made basket of oak leaves pinned together with
twigs, and heaped full of blueberries; the squaw shook her head as
Nakanit offered her the berries, and pointed toward Anne. Nakanit
obeyed, but somewhat sulkily, for she had meant to help Anne with the
bundle, and was still angry at Anne's refusal.

"How good they taste," exclaimed Anne as she helped herself to a
handful, and she smiled up gratefully at Nakanit. The Indian girl's face
brightened, and she smiled back, and sitting down beside Anne held the
basket forward for her to take more. When the berries were finished
Nakanit again disappeared.

After several hours' rest the squaw started on again, and Anne followed
after wondering where Nakanit was. In a short time they came down to a
sandy beach.

"Why, look! There's Nakanit!" exclaimed Anne, pointing toward the water,
where a bark canoe floated near the shore with Nakanit in it, holding
her paddle ready to send the craft to whatever point on the beach her
mother might direct.

The squaw called, and with a twist of the paddle the girl sent the canoe
to the shore. The squaw lifted in the baskets, the roll of blankets and
Anne's bundle. "Sit there, and be quiet," she said, and Anne stepped in
very carefully and sat down on the bottom of the canoe.

It was now late in the afternoon. The water was very calm, and as
Nakanit and her mother dipped their paddles and sent the canoe swiftly
along, Anne looked back toward the wooded shore and was very glad that
she was not plodding along over the fields and hills. It was much cooler
on the water, and the little girl wondered if her Aunt Martha missed her
at all. "But perhaps she is glad that I ran away," thought Anne, for she
was sure that she had not given either Amanda or Mrs. Stoddard any
reason to be unkind or to blame her. "Rose Freeman will be glad I came;
I know she will," was her comforting thought.

[Illustration: "SIT THERE AND BE QUIET"]

The Indians did not speak save for an occasional word of direction from
the squaw. The sun had set when they turned the canoe toward the shore.
Nakanit pulled the canoe upon the sand beyond reach of the tide, and
th