e alone in camp. My father and the guides had gone out to
hunt."

"Did they treat you well?"

"The Indians let us alone, but the two white men annoyed and frightened
us. The old chief kept us near him."

"The old chief knew better than to let any harm come to you until they
were sure of getting away with their plunder."

"We were in the valley of death and you have led us out of it. I am
sure that I do not look as if I were worth saving. I suppose that I
must have turned into an old woman. Is my hair white?"

"No. You are the best-looking girl I ever saw," he declared with
rustic frankness.

"I never had a compliment that pleased me so much," she answered, as
her elbows tightened a little on his hands which were clinging to her
coat. "I almost loved you for what you did to the old villain. I saw
blood on the side of your head. I fear he hurt you?"

"He jabbed me once. It is nothing."

"How brave you were!"

"I think I am more scared now than I was then," said Jack.

"Scared! Why?"

"I am not used to girls except my sisters."

She laughed and answered:

"And I am not used to heroes. I am sure you can not be so scared as I
am, but I rather enjoy it. I like to be scared--a little. This is so
different."

"I like you," he declared with a laugh.

"I feared you would not like an English girl. So many North Americans
hate England."

"The English have been hard on us."

"What do you mean?"

"They send us governors whom we do not like; they make laws for us
which we have to obey; they impose hard taxes which are not just and
they will not let us have a word to say about it."

"I think it is wrong and I'm going to stand up for you," the girl
answered.

"Where do you live?" he asked.

"In London. I am an English girl, but please do not hate me for that.
I want to do what is right and I shall never let any one say a word
against Americans without taking their part."

"That's good," the boy answered. "I'd love to go to London."

"Well, why don't you?"

"It's a long way off."

"Do you like good-looking girls?"

"I'd rather look at them than eat."

"Well, there are many in London."

"One is enough," said Jack.

"I'd love to show them a real hero."

"Don't call me that. If you would just call me Jack Irons I'd like it
better. But first you'll want to know how I behave. I am not a
fighter."

"I am sure that your character is as good as your face."

"Gosh! I hope it ain't