em
with a few words of welcome.

Fortunately for all parties, Okematan presented himself just then,
having, while at work in the garden, seen the party of Sioux arrive. He
did his best to act the host, explaining to the visitors the cause of
Dan's weakness, and, by Dan's directions, offering them tobacco and
pipes.

While they were thus engaged, old McKay entered.

"I saw you comin', lads," he said, heartily. "What cheer? what cheer?"
he added, shaking hands with them all round.

The Sioux were obviously much pleased with their reception, especially
when Mrs Davidson, Jessie, and Elspie, who had been out walking,
returned and joined the party.

After showing the Indians everything in the house, old McKay--who
constituted himself their guide,--took them out to see the live stock
and the farm. He led them first into the garden.

It chanced at this time that there was a "snake in the grass" not far
off. This was no other than the bad Indian Kateegoose.

Why some people are what we call naturally bad, like Kateegoose, while
others are what we call naturally good, like Okematan, is a mystery the
investigation of which we propose postponing to a more convenient
season. Of course no sane person will maintain that this mystery frees
fallen man from responsibility. If it did, we could no longer hang for
murder. It would be the bounden duty of every judge, in that case, to
acquit every murderer with "Poor fellow, it was his fate; he could not
help it!" and send him away with a pat on the shoulder, and an order for
coffee and buns, perhaps, in his pocket. As none but sane persons,
however, will read my book, it is not necessary to enlarge further on
this head.

Certain it is that Kateegoose was "bad"--obdurately bad--had been so
from his very cradle, if he ever had one, which is doubtful, and bade
fair to continue so to his grave. Sutherland had button-holed him more
than once, but apparently in vain. It is only fair to the savage to say
that he listened patiently to the Elder's remonstrances, and attentively
to his exhortations, and assumed an aspect of mild contrition that might
or might not have been sincere--as far as appearance went.

Now, it unfortunately happened that among the Sioux braves there was a
man who had done Kateegoose a deadly injury of some sort, which nothing
short of blood could wipe out. Kateegoose, in familiar parlance,
spotted him at once, and dogged his steps through the Settlement,