do now, I reckon. It doesn't stand to reason that you feel like
moving around very much, therefore, you shall stay here while I go to
work."

Then he set about making the foundations for a mill that might never be
completed, and when it was so dark that he could no longer see to work,
he felt satisfied with the progress made.

The Indian had cooked supper, and the boy showed that he appreciated
the culinary efforts, rude though they were.

"You know Jim Albert?"

This question was asked when an hour had been spent in almost perfect
silence by the occupants of the lean-to, and the boy was startled both,
by the name and the voice.

"Yes; I know him," Walter replied, grimly, thinking of the part played
in his capture by the half-breed.

"Big rascal!"

"You're right. I know it isn't just the thing to give way to revengeful
thoughts, but some day that scoundrel shall answer to me for what has
been done. If he and Sam Haines had remained where they belonged, I
wouldn't be here hiding as if I really was a thief."

The Indian did not continue the conversation, although Walter gave him
every encouragement, and at an early hour the tired boy sought the
repose to be found in slumber.

When he set out for work next morning the Indian accompanied him, and
during the day laboured faithfully hewing trees, or gathering rocks
which were to form the foundation of the proposed mill.

"I didn't fancy having an Indian for a companion at first, but it
begins to look as if finding him under that tree would be a fortunate
thing for me. We are getting this place into shape very fast, and when
it is possible for me to raise the money, it won't be necessary to
spend very much time making ready for the more serious portion of the
work."

During the week which followed, with the exception of the Sabbath, the
two laboured industriously, save at such tittle as one or the other
spent in hunting, and Walter could see the outlines of the structure he
intended one day to build.

A large pile of rocks had been rolled together to form the lower walls,
huge timbers were hewn and roughly "squared" for the framework, and a
road from the riverbank to the highway, four miles distant, was
"blazed" a goodly portion of the way.

During all this time, while he had laboured as industriously as if it
was some project of his own, the Indian remained comparatively silent.
He had told the rescuer his name was Sewatis; that he was a member of
the Penob