e decided he could do no wiser thing than to remain where
he was until daylight; then if John had not arrived, he would set out to
find him.

Piling more wood on the fire that the light might help to guide John to
camp, the lonely boy wrapped a blanket about his shoulders and sat down,
resolved to remain awake to watch and listen. He heard only the soughing
wind and old Jerry nibbling the short grass nearby, and the hooting of an
owl in the forest gloom. Thus an hour passed, and then suddenly a sound
of soft footsteps broke upon the boy's ear. Was it John slipping up
stealthily to try to scare him? Ree thought it was, but in another
instant he detected the foot-falls of more than one person, and sprang to
his feet.

"How!" The word was spoken in a deep guttural tone almost before Ree had
time to face about. At the same moment he saw two Indians stalking toward
him.

"Howdy!" Ree promptly answered, though filled with misgiving; for at a
glance he saw that the savages were fully armed. One was of middle age,
tall and stately as a king. The other was much younger. As they came
within reach Ree held out his hand, but the Indian either did not see or
refused to accept the proffered greeting.

Nevertheless Ree spread a blanket near the fire and asked the savages to
sit down. They made no reply. The older of them looked at him intently
and gazed around in evident surprise to see the lad alone. The younger
stepped around the fire and looked inquiringly into the cart.

"I am just a trader," said Ree, with an open frankness in his tones which
even a savage must have appreciated. "There are two of us, but my partner
went hunting and has not yet come back. Sit down, brothers; I have no
fresh meat to offer you, but my friend will soon return with some, I
hope."

The elder Indian seated himself saying: "White men steal, Indians no
steal."

"There are good Indians and good white men," answered Ree, but he was
keeping an eye on the younger savage, who seemed to have found something
in the cart which interested him, for he slyly put his hand inside.

"Oh, do be seated!" Ree exclaimed as he noticed this. There was irony in
his voice which made the older Indian shrug his shoulders, but the young
white man led the Indian brave, a chap but little older than himself,
away from the cart. With some force he drew the buck to a blanket and
motioned to him to sit down.

Appearing to give the matter no further thought, Ree placed bacon