wood and--"

"Come, now," replied Mandy impatiently, "who taught you to cut wood? I
can get my own wood. The main thing is to get away and get back. This
boy needs shelter. How long have you been here?" she inquired of the
Indian.

The boy opened his eyes and swung his arm twice from east to west,
indicating the whole sweep of the sky.

"Two days?"

He nodded.

"You must be starving. Want to eat?"

"Good!"

"Hurry, then, Allan, with the water. By the time this lad has been fed
you will be back."

It was not long before Allan was back with the water.

"Now, then," he said to the Indian, "where's your camp?"

The Indian with his knife drew a line upon the ground. "River," he said.
Another line parallel, "Trail." Then, tracing a branching line from
the latter, turning sharply to the right, "Big Hill," he indicated.
"Down--down." Then, running the line a little farther, "Here camp."

"I know the spot," cried Allan. "Well, I'm off. Are you quite sure,
Mandy, you don't mind?"

"Run off with you and get back soon. Go--good-by! Oh! Stop, you foolish
boy! Aren't you ashamed of yourself before--?"

Cameron laughed in happy derision.

"Ashamed? No, nor before his whole tribe." He swung himself on his pony
and was off down the trail at a gallop.

"You' man?" inquired the Indian lad.

"Yes," she said, "my man," pride ringing in her voice.

"Huh! Him Big Chief?"

"Oh, no! Yes." She corrected herself hastily. "Big Chief. Ranch, you
know--Big Horn Ranch."

"Huh!" He closed his eyes and sank back again upon the ground.

"You're faint with hunger, poor boy," said Mandy. She hastily cut a
large slice of bread, buttered it, laid upon it some bacon and handed it
to him.

"Here, take this in the meantime," she said. "I'll have your tea in a
jiffy."

The boy took the bread, and, faint though he was with hunger, sternly
repressing all sign of haste, he ate it with grave deliberation.

In a few minutes more the tea was ready and Mandy brought him a cup.

"Good!" he said, drinking it slowly.

"Another?" she smiled.

"Good!" he replied, drinking the second cup more rapidly.

"Now, we'll have some fish," cried Mandy cheerily, "and then you'll be
fit for your journey home."

In twenty minutes more she brought him a frying pan in which two large
beautiful trout lay, browned in butter. Mandy caught the wolf-like look
in his eyes as they fell upon the food. She cut several thick slices of
bread, laid them in the