Rudolph's attention, until, finally, the tearful
eyes of the boy were turned upon him. Then, if ever a dog tried to do
his best, that fellow did. He sprang into the air, barked, tumbled,
leaped, whined, wagged his tail till it almost spun, and, finally,
licked Rudolph in the face until the chubby cheeks shook with laughter.

All this time Tom's Indian dress had scarcely been noticed. At last Mrs.
Hedden, grasping both his hands, exclaimed:

"Why, what in the world have you been doing with yourself? I knew you,
though, the moment you came in. Oh, Tom, how you have suffered!"

Tom tried to answer her; but somehow his great faithful heart was
overflowing, and he could only look at her with a tearful smile.

"That's nothing," he said at length. "It's all ended well, anyhow. But a
fellow can't help thinking of his own folks, dead and gone, when he sees
such a meeting as this."

Mr. Hedden, who had been talking with Po-no-kah, walked over to Tom and
placed his hand upon his shoulder.

"_We_ are your folks now, my faithful fellow. God bless you! I can never
repay what I owe you. Remember, our home is yours from this hour. I
shall take no denial."

"Good!" exclaimed Bessie, clapping her hands; "now I shall have two
brothers!"

Mrs. Hedden, who had listened to Po-no-kah's broken words, kissed and
hugged Tom in her motherly way. "Dear me," she exclaimed, "how can we
make you look like a white man again; and to think you have had chances
to escape and would not leave the children," and then she hugged him
again.

"Ugh!" grunted the Indian, nodding his head and holding up three
fingers--to signify that Tom had had three chances.

"Pooh!" said the brave fellow, blushing through all the red paint, "I
didn't have any at all until a month or so ago, and I'd got kind o' used
to staying then."

Soon the red man turned to go. In vain the grateful parents tried to
force their gifts upon him, and to persuade him to at least partake of
some refreshment after his long journey.

He pointed to his hunting-pouch and his bow, as if to say that they
would furnish all the the food he required, and nodded westward to show
that he must be far on his way before sundown.

As Tom gave him a hearty hand-shake and the rest crowded about him, all,
even to little Kitty, thanking him over and over again, he waved them
off with dignity.

"No thank," he said; "Po-no-kah was cold and hungry; the father of the
young pale-faces gave him food. He