and I am bound to follow him," answered Laurence.

"Your white friends and your white father cannot care for you as we do.
Your heart cannot be so hardened towards those who brought you up as to
wish again to quit them."

Much more his old nurse said in the same strain. Laurence thought of
all the kindness he had received from Mrs Ramsay. He was very
unwilling also to part from little Jeanie; but old feelings revived
within him, the new principles which he had of late heard in the fort
had taken no strong hold of him, and he became once more the wild Indian
boy of former years.

The chief sent for him, and used further powerful arguments to induce
him to remain. Laurence at length promised to continue with his old
friends, unless his father should claim him; but he begged first to be
allowed to go back to the fort to bid farewell to his white friends.

The wily Sioux had had no intention of losing altogether the share of
the prized articles which he supposed the fort to contain. He
consented, therefore, to allow Laurence to return, on condition that he
would obtain from the white chief, as he called Mr Ramsay, a certain
number of guns, ammunition, blankets, knives, and numerous other things
which he named.

"If he sends them, we will be his friends; but if not, we shall know
that he looks upon us as enemies, and we will take by force what we now
only ask as a gift."

Laurence, accompanied by a small band of Sioux, set out as the bearer of
this message to the fort. The Indians remained outside while he made
his way to the gates. He was welcomed warmly by Mr Ramsay. He was
thankful to find that the train with the provisions had arrived, and
that several of the hunters had also made their way round by the north
into the fort, with two bears and several deer and other animals.

Mr Ramsay, notwithstanding this, wishing to establish, if possible,
friendly relations with the Sioux, agreed to send the articles the chief
demanded as a gift, though he still thought it prudent not to put
himself or any of his people in their power.

"You and your red-skinned friends who have come with you shall,
therefore, convey them to the chief, and you will then return and remain
with us. I wish to show you how much I value the service you have
rendered us; for had the Sioux assailed the fort--as not only had the
provisions, but our ammunition run short--they very probably would have
entered and put every one within to death.