es for the proposed wigwam and setting them in place. By this time
Rodney, who had been waked by the woman, joined them and worked as
hard as his sore muscles would permit. By night he had a shelter of
bark and boughs. Louis brought a mat and there the weary captive lay
down for the night, hungry and sore. Later, the little fellow brought
him some dried venison and showed him the spring that supplied the
village with drinking water.

The following morning Rodney chanced to see the half-breed, "Maman,"
as Louis called her, though Rodney felt sure she was not his mother,
talking very earnestly with Caughnega and their talk ceased when he
approached, which aroused his suspicion. He made inquiries of Louis
and learned that Caughnega was the "medicine man" of the village and
possessed influence. Ahneota was the more influential and the boy
shrewdly guessed that Caughnega was jealous.

A chief of a tribe maintained his influence through no laws, for the
Indians had none. The position might be strengthened by the chief
having influential relatives, but this did not appear to be true of
Ahneota. Generally speaking, a chief retained his place because the
tribe trusted and respected him, as it was evident they did Ahneota.
Not only members of his tribe, but other Indians, came and held
counsel with him. At first Rodney hesitated about calling on the chief
but gradually became a daily visitor at his lodge.

One of the accomplishments which Rodney had learned from Thello was
fishing. When leaving home he had taken a good linen line and several
iron hooks. Indians speared or netted most of the fish they took, but
occasionally angled for them with bone hooks and lines made of twisted
fibre. The boy obtained permission to fish and in this way often
contributed to the food supply of the village.

Food was held in common. Any one having it was expected to share
equally with the others. When luck smiled on the boy he was careful to
have a nicely broiled fish to take to Ahneota. He also attempted to
make friends with Conrad but always met with a surly reception.

Louis was so friendly as to be almost a nuisance, especially as Rodney
believed the little fellow's fondness for him was a cause for the
dislike of Conrad and "Maman." The little boy, whenever he could
escape the watchfulness of "Maman" would pay a visit to Rodney's
wigwam, which had been made quite substantial, being covered with
strips of elm bark. Louis was always clamour