d lots of them died on the way or got killed by
Indians."

"Indians?" said Katy, "why, we haven't seen a single Indian and Cousin
May said she'd be afraid to come out here because there were lots of
them still about."

"Not in this part of Kansas--you needn't lose any sleep. The Kaw
reservation isn't so very far away and parties sometimes come this way
to revisit their old hunting grounds, but the Kaws were a peaceable
tribe even in their free days."

"There are lots of Indian mounds and relics around here," put in Chicken
Little. "Father got those arrow heads, and that stone to pound corn, and
his tomahawk heads out of a mound over on Little John."

"Yes, and there's a tree on the main street in town that used to be a
famous meeting place for the Indians. Oh, we must take you all to see
the old Indian Mission. It was used as a fort, too, more than once, they
say. The walls are fully two feet thick."

"Whew, I didn't know you had so many interesting things round here!"
exclaimed Sherm.

"We are so used to them we hardly think of them as being interesting.
Have I ever told you about the hermit's cave?"

"Hermit's cave? No, where is it?"

"On the side of that big bluff just west of town. Oh, that's some story.
The hermit lived there until about ten years ago. Some said he was a
Jesuit priest who lived a hermit's life to become more holy, and others
that he was an Italian Noble who had fled from Italy to escape
punishment for a crime. Nobody ever really knew much about him except
that he was highly educated and read books in several different
languages. But the cave is still there, in the ledge of rocks near the
top of the bluff."

"Oh, I'd love to see it." Gertie liked romantic things.

"So would I," Katy added.

"Me too," echoed Sherm.

"Count me in," said the Captain, "or rather let me take you all to town
some day to explore these marvels."

"They really aren't much to see--they're more interesting to tell about.
But I'd be glad to see them all again myself," Ernest replied.

Wing Fan had prepared so many good things for them that none of the
party felt energetic enough for rowing immediately after supper. They
were glad to linger over the peach ice cream which was Wing's crowning
triumph, and nibble at the Chinese sweetmeats about which they were
rather doubtful.

"I don't believe I ever tasted such good ice cream," exclaimed Katy.

"I think Wing Fan must say magical words over everything he cooks