"Please read God's Word to me," said the Indian. "I love to hear it."

Donald gladly did as he was requested, his companion occasionally asking
him questions. It was nearly midnight before the Indian rose to return
to his own camp, promising to come back in the morning with some of his
people to convey Alec to the river.

Soon after daybreak, he appeared with a litter, which he had had
constructed, and a supply of food, in case, as he said, his white
brother might require it. Alec had been for some time awake. He did
not appear surprised when the Indians arrived.

"I heard you reading to the stranger," he said, "but I was too weary to
speak."

As soon as breakfast was over, Alec was placed on the litter, and the
Indians bore him along lightly and easily through the forest. It was
past noon before the bank of the stream was reached. Here they launched
two of their canoes, which together were sufficient to convey the whole
party. Alec was placed in one, under charge of the chief, and Donald
took his seat in the other. At night they camped on shore, when Donald
read the Bible to his redskin friends, Alec being apparently an
attentive listener.

"It is strange," he afterwards remarked to Alec, "that that book should
have such a power over the men of the wilderness as apparently to change
their savage natures."

"God's Holy Spirit is the power applied to those who accept His offer
made to them by means of the book," continued Donald. "You, my dear
Alec, will experience the same change if you will but take God at His
word and trust Him, although you, from having had these offers often
made and rejected, may have to pass through many troubled waters, such
as these children of the desert have not experienced. But remember His
words, `Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.'
`What encouragement does that promise afford sinners, conscious that
they are such, and tossed about with doubts and fears.'"

Alec made no reply. Donald, however, felt sure that the conduct and
conversation of his Indian friends had had a great effect on his mind.

On the evening of the second day, the party reached the township, when
the Indians conveyed Alec to Donald's house. The sincerity of the chief
was proved, when he refused to receive any reward for the service he had
rendered.

"No, no, my friend," he answered. "I rejoice to help brother
Christians, for I remember the Lord's words, `I was hungred, a