a convicted culprit.

"Nell, I haven't got nothin' at all."

"_What_ a pity! We must just go supperless to bed, I suppose."

"Come, lass, I see by the twinkle in your eye that you've got grub
somehow or other. Has the redskin brought some 'at with him?"

"Yes, he has brought a little; but the best fun is that I shot a bird
myself, and had it all ready beautifully cooked for your supper, when
Wap--"

"Well, what d'ye mean by Wap?" inquired Roy, as Nelly stopped short.

"Nothing. I only meant to say that the Indian arrived suddenly, and ate
it all up."

"The villain! Well, I'll pay him off by eatin' up some o' _his_ grub.
Did he say what his name was, or where he came from?" inquired Roy.

"Never mind, you can ask him yourself," said Nelly, as they drew near to
the hut; "he seems to me to have been badly wounded by his enemies."

They stooped and entered the hut as Nelly spoke. The Indian looked up
at her brother, and, uttering his wonted "Ho!" held out his hand.

"Good luck to ye!" cried Roy, grasping it and shaking it with a feeling
of hearty hospitality. "It's good to see yer face, though it _is_ a
strange un; but--hallo!--I say--yer face ain't so strange, after all!--
what! Why, you're not Wap--Wap--Wapaw!"

The Indian displayed all his teeth, which were very numerous and
remarkably white, and nodded his head gently.

"Well now, that beats everything!" cried Roy, seizing the Indian's hand
again and shaking it violently; then, turning to Nelly, he said, "Come,
Nell, stir yer stumps and pluck two o' them birds. I'll split 'em, an'
wash 'em, an' roast 'em, an' we'll all eat 'em--Wapaw'll be ready for
more before it's ready for him. Jump, now, and see if we don't have a
feast to-night, if we should starve to-morrow. But I say, Wapaw, don't
ye think the redskins may be after you yet?"

The first part of this speech was uttered in wild glee, but the last
sentence was spoken more earnestly, as the thought occurred to him that
Wapaw might have been closely pursued, for Nelly had told him of the
Indian having been wounded by enemies and obliged to fly.

Wapaw shook his head, and made his young friend understand as well as he
could that there was little chance of that, as he had travelled with the
utmost speed in order to distance his pursuers, and induce them to give
up the chase.

"Well, it may be as you say, friend," observed Roy, as he sat down
before the fire and pulled off his hunting mocassins