"Build mill next day," Sewatis said, more indistinctly than usual,
because his mouth was full of meat.

Walter understood the Indian to mean that he would continue the work on
the morrow, and was not particularly interested in the proposed labour,
for during the time he had been alone the possibility of ever getting a
sufficient capital seemed an obstacle which could not be surmounted.

"What did you do with Jim Albert?"

"Big rascal! Jim gone Castine; never come back."

"Castine, eh? Well, you took him far enough away, at all events."

"Heap rascal fetch heap money," and Sewatis drew from beneath his
blanket a bag which, on being opened, proved to be filled with gold
pieces. "Hundred pound; more Jim worth alive."

It was some time before Walter could understand the Indian's meaning,
and then the thought came that he had heard some one say the half-breed
came to Portsmouth from the Penobscot River.

"Do you mean that there was a price set on Jim's head?" he asked,
eagerly.

"Hundred pound," and Sewatis held up the bag once more. "Now build
mill."

"But I have nothing to do with that," Walter cried, as the Indian
pushed the money toward him.

"Build mill."

"But I surely can't do it with your money, you must understand that."

"Why?"

"Because it--you know I couldn't."

"Would from white man?"

"That is different. If Master McCleary or Master Leavitt would lend it
to me, taking a mortgage to secure themselves--"

Sewatis pushed his bag toward Walter once more, and when the latter
shook his head, as if to refuse the loan, or gift, which ever it might
be called, the Indian rose to his feet, pulling his blanket more
closely around him.

"What is the matter? Where are you going?"

Sewatis pointed toward the east, and moved slowly away.

"Come back!" Walter cried, entreatingly. "Come back and help me as you
did before."

"Build mill?" and the Indian touched the bag of money with his foot.

"Do you mean that you won't stay unless I use that gold?"

Sewatis nodded.

"Suppose I did take it?"

The Indian seated himself as if to show he would remain.

It was fully an hour before Walter spoke again, and during that time he
pondered over the matter in all its bearings. It seemed much like
taking an undue advantage of Sewatis to use his money, and yet there
could be no question but that he was pained when it was refused.

"I don't know why the fact of his being an Indian should prevent me
from a