sign did he
give to show that the words had any effect. When the address was
ended, however, he turned to his chief and spoke a few brief words,
bearing no connection, so Keith thought, to the burning message he had
just delivered.

"The pale-face stranger is hungry," he said. "He has been a long time
on the trail, and is weary. I will take him to my lodge."

The chief nodded his approval.

"Take him," he replied. "Give him food, and bring him to me to-morrow."

Once again within his guide's house, Keith was supplied with an
abundance of food. Though not of the savouriest, and badly cooked, the
meat tasted delicious after his long fast. Much refreshed, he turned
to his host, who was observing him with a kindly expression.

"Tell me," he inquired, "why you are so kind to me. I am a stranger,
and of a race hated by your people. Yet you have delivered me from the
hands of the Indians, shelter me now in your lodge, and provide me with
food. Is this the way you treat an enemy?"

A peculiar smile crossed the Indian's face as he listened to these
words.

"I am Shrahegan," he replied, "and is there not a good reason why I
should be kind to my pale-face brother?"

"What reason?" asked Keith in surprise.

"Does not my brother remember Shrahegan?"

"Remember you! Why, I never saw you before!"

Again the native smiled as he continued.

"Does not my brother remember eight snows ago when he shot the fierce
grizzly in the pass beyond the mountains, and saved the life of an
Indian boy?"

"Yes, oh, yes, I remember that day very well," and Keith thought of the
fine bear-skin rug in the Radhurst cabin. "But what has that to do
with your kindness to me?"

"Shrahegan was that boy," came the startling response, "and Shrahegan
never forgets."

"What! you that boy? I can't believe it!" and Keith looked at the
Indian in amazement.

"You may not believe it, but it is true. Shrahegan saw you then, and
once again at Klassan."

"At Klassan!"

"Yes, at Klassan."

"But what were you doing there?"

"Ah, Shrahegan went as a spy. The Quelchies wished to attack the
Tukudhs; kill the men, and steal their women. He crossed the mountain,
and crept upon the village at night. He looked through a window into a
big building, and heard the Indians sing just like you sang to-day.
Then he saw there the man who had saved his life, dressed all in white,
talking to the people, though he could not hear what was said. Then