"That's all right, my boy," replied Sam. "I understand. Don't worry.
Just take it easy. I'll look over the district, so we won't be losing
any time. And, Dick, be decent to the girl."

"To hell with the girl," growled Dick, lapsing abruptly from his
expansive mood. "She got me into this."

Not another word would he speak, but lay, staring upward, chewing the
cud of resentment.

Promptly on the heels of his decision Sam Bolton had a long talk with
May-may-gwan, then departed carrying a little pack. It was useless to
think now of the canoe, and in any case the time of year favoured
cross-country travel. The distances, thus measured, were not excessive,
and from the Indian's descriptions, Sam's slow-brooding memory had
etched into his mind an accurate map of the country.

At noon the girl brought Dick his meal. After he had eaten she removed
the few utensils. Then she returned.

"The Little Father commanded that I care for your hurt," she said,
simply.

"My leg's all right now," growled Dick. "I can bandage it myself."

May-may-gwan did not reply, but left the tent. In a moment she
reappeared carrying forked switches, a square of white birch-bark, and a
piece of charcoal.

"Thus it is," said she rapidly. "These be the leg bones and this the
bone of the ankle. This bone is broken, so. Thus it is held in place by
the skill of the Little Father. Thus it is healing, with stiffness of
the muscles and the gristle, so that always Eagle eye will walk like
wood, and never will he run. The Little Father has told May-may-gwan
what there is to do. It is now the time. Fifteen suns have gone since
the hurt."

She spoke simply. Dick, interested in spite of himself, stared at the
switches and the hasty charcoal sketch. The dead silence hung for a full
minute. Then the young man fell back from his elbow with an enigmatical
snort. May-may-gwan assumed consent and set to work on the simple yet
delicate manipulations, massages, and flexings, which, persisted in with
due care lest the fracture slip, would ultimately restore the limb to
its full usefulness.

Once a day she did this, thrice a day she brought food. The rest of the
time she was busy about her own affairs; but never too occupied to loop
up a section of the tepee covering for the purpose of admitting fresh
air, to bring a cup of cold water, to readjust the sling which suspended
the injured leg, or to perform an hundred other little services. She did
these things with in