as one holds an
ear of corn to a frisky colt he wishes to catch, he approached near
enough to offer them, Fanny still holding me back just enough to let
this advance be made before we came up. To her great relief the mummy
put out a skinny hand, and snatched the offered provisions under its
robe.

"You see he is only a poor starving old Indian," I said.

"Me no poor--no starve; me big chief," retorted the old man, glancing
disdainfully at us, with eyes that now appeared bright.

I exchanged telegraphic communication with Charlie and Fanny, seated her
comfortably upon a mossy boulder, and threw myself at her feet, while
Charlie disposed of himself also, within conversational distance.

"May I ask what is your name?" I inquired, insinuatingly.

"My name is Nittinat--this is my country; this water is mine; this
earth, these stones--all mine that you see."

"Such a great chief must have many warriors--many people. I do not see
any. Were those your people that I saw in the canoe?"

"Nittinat's people all gone," answered the old man sadly, dropping his
chin upon his rush-clad breast.

"But we saw a canoe with fourteen warriors in it, besides yourself,"
Charlie eagerly asserted. "Where are those young men?"

"Me great medicine man; make see canoe--make see young men," responded
the owner of the place, with a wan yet superior sort of smile.

Charlie glanced at us, then asked quite deferentially, "Can you make us
see what is not here?"

"You have seen," was the brief reply.

"Ask him why we are thus favored," whispered Fanny.

"This young cloochman (you see I must talk to him in his own tongue,
Fanny), wishes to know why you opened our eyes to your great medicine."

"White man come to Nittinat's land, white man see Nittinat's power.
White man ask questions!"--this last contemptuously, at which Fanny
laughed, as asking questions was one of her reserved rights.

"You must be an old man, since these waters are named after you,"
suggested I. "Who was the first white man you remember seeing?"

"_Hyas tyee_, Cappen Cook. Big ship--big guns!" answered Nittinat,
warming with the recollection.

"This is a good lead," remarked Charlie, _sotto voce_; "follow it up,
Pierre."

"You were a child then? very little?" making a movement with my hand to
indicate a child's stature.

"Me a chief--many warriors--big chief. Ugh!" said the mummy, with
kindling eyes.

At this barefaced story, Charlie made a grimace, while he com