d, that the poor creature resigned herself to the enjoyment of that
warmth of which she stood so much in need. Meanwhile Dick, without
shifting his position, stretched forth his long arm, collected all the
wood within reach, and placed it on the fire.

After a few minutes the old woman raised her head, and looking earnestly
in Dick's face with her bleared and almost sightless eyes, said in the
Indian language, with which her companion was well acquainted--

"My son, have you come back to me?"

A gush of indignant feeling had again to be violently stifled ere Dick
could answer in moderate tones--

"No, mother, he's _not_ come back; but I'll be a son to ye. See, sit up
an' warm yerself at the blaze. I'll get ye some meat and sticks."

In hot haste, and with desperate activity, for he had no other way of
relieving his feelings, Dick cut down a quantity of firewood and placed
it close to the hand of the old woman. Then he untied the tin kettle
which he always carried at his saddle-bow, and, with a piece of dried
venison, concocted a quantity of hot soup in a marvellously short space
of time. This done, he sat down beside the old woman and made her
partake of it.

"Is it long since they left ye, mother?" he said, after she had
swallowed a little.

The old woman pondered for a few seconds. "No," she said, "not long.
Only one sun has gone down since my son left me." Then she added in a
sad tone, "I loved him. He is a great warrior--a brave chief--and he
loved me, too. But he had to leave me; I am old and useless. It is my
fate."

"Describe your son to me," said Dick abruptly. "He is tall and straight
as the poplar," began the old creature, while a look of pride played for
a moment on her withered countenance. "His shoulders are broad and his
limbs are supple. He can run and leap like the deer, but not so well as
he once could. Grey hairs are now mingling with the black--"

"Has he any mark by which I could find him out?" interrupted Dick
impatiently.

"He has a deep cut over the right eye," returned the woman; "but stay,"
she added in some alarm, "you would not harm my son; you are not an
enemy?"

"No, I would not; I would do him good. Which way did they go?"

"To the prairie--to the rising sun."

Dick at once arose, placed the kettle of soup close to the old woman's
side, and unbuckling his saddle-girth, removed the blanket that covered
his saddle, and transferred it to her shoulders.

This do