he sprang
up and seized the axe which lay at his side. "Oh, it's only _you_, what
a yell you do give, Nelly! why, one would think you were a born Injun;
what is't all about, lass? Ye-a-ow! how sleepy I am--too late to have
another nap, I suppose, eh?"

"Oh yes, lazy thing! get up and come out quick!" cried the other, as she
sprang up and ran out of the hut to enjoy the full blaze of the
sunshine, and the fresh morning air.

That morning Nelly could do little but ramble about in a wild sort of
fashion, trying to imagine that she was queen of the world around her!
She sobered down, however, towards noon, and went diligently about the
work which Roy had given her to do. She had the internal arrangements
of the hut to complete and improve, some pairs of mocassins to mend, and
several arrows to feather, besides other matters.

Meanwhile Roy went out to hunt.

Determined not to use his fast-diminishing ammunition, except on large
game, and anxious to become more expert with the bow, he set to work the
first thing that day, and made a new bow. Armed with this and a dozen
arrows, he sallied forth.

Some of his arrows were pointed with ivory, some with iron, and some had
no points at all, but blunt heavy heads instead. These latter were, and
still are, used by Indians in shooting game that is tame and easily
killed. Grouse of various kinds, for instance, if hit with full force
from a short range by a blunt-headed arrow, will be effectually stunned,
especially if hit on the head.

At first Roy walked along the shores of the lake, but was not very
successful, because the ducks and geese were hid among reeds, and rose
suddenly with a distracting _whirr_, usually flying off over the water.
To have let fly at these would have cost him an arrow every shot, so,
after losing one, he wisely restrained himself.

After a time, he turned into the woods, resolving to try his fortune
where his arrows were not so likely to be lost. He had not gone far,
when a tree-grouse sprang into the air and settled on a neighbouring
pine.

Roy became excited, for he was anxious not to return to the hut
empty-handed a second time. He fitted a sharp-headed arrow to the
string, and advanced towards the bird cautiously. His anxiety to make
little noise was so great, that he tripped over a root and fell with a
hideous crash into the middle of a dead bush, the branches of which
snapped like a discharge of little crackers. Poor Roy got up dis