oung person? Surely, you are mistaken. She must be the
daughter of some resident at the Fort, or of some traveller like
ourselves."

"I don't believe she is. She's been taking care of herself all day. I
haven't heard anybody tell her 'Don't' once. If she belonged to folk
they'd do it wouldn't they?"

"Very likely. Parents have to discipline their young. Don't drag me
so. I'm walking fast enough."

"That's what I say, father. 'Don't' shows I belong to you. But I do
wish you'd come. She might get away before you could catch her."

"Catch her, Three? I don't understand."

"I know it. My mother used to say you never did understand plain
every-day things. That's why she had to take care of you the same as
us. Oh! I wish we'd never come to this horrid place."

The reference to his wife and the child's grief roused the clergyman
more completely than even an appeal for the heathen. Laying his thin
hand tenderly upon the small rumpled head, he stroked it as he
answered:

"In my flesh I echo that wish, laddie; but in my spirit I am resigned
to whatever the Lord sends. If there is a heathen here, there is His
work to do, and in that I can forget my own distress. I will walk
faster if you wish."

The other small Littlejohns, with Kitty, now joined their father and
Three, the girl regarding him with some curiosity, for he was of a
stamp quite different from any person she had ever seen. But he won
her instant love as, holding out his hands in welcome, he exclaimed:

"Why, my daughter! Surely the lads were jesting. You look neither
ignorant nor heathen, and in personal gifts the Lord has been most
kind to you."

"Has He? But I am rather lonely now."

"And so am I. Therefore, we will be the better friends. Why, sons,
this is just what we need to make our group complete. Maybe, lassie,
your parents will spare you to us, now and then."

"I have no parents. I am a ward of Government, though I don't
understand it. I wish--are you too busy to hear my story, and will you
advise me? Gaspar told me some things, but he's not old and wise like
you, dear sir."

"Old I am, indeed, but far from wise. Though, so well as I know I will
most gladly counsel you. Let us go yonder, to that shady place beside
the great wall, where there are benches to rest on and quiet to listen
in."

Now small Four Littlejohns had heard a deal about heathen. They had
been the dearest theme of all the stories told him, and he caught his
father's hand w