; and the more he said, the more I felt inclined to
like him.

Uncle Jeff had a good deal of conversation with Sergeant Custis, who
appeared to be a superior sort of person, and had, I suspect, seen
better days.

We were still seated at supper when the door opened and an Indian
stalked into the room, decked with war-paint and feathers, and rifle in
hand.

"Ugh!" he exclaimed, stopping and regarding us, as if unwilling to
advance without permission.

"Come in, friend," said Uncle Jeff, rising and going towards him; "sit
down, and make yourself at home. You would like some food, I guess?"

The Indian again uttered a significant "Ugh!" as, taking advantage of
Uncle Jeff's offer, he seated himself by the fire.

"Why, uncle," exclaimed Clarice, "it is Winnemak!"

* * * * *

But I must explain how Clarice came to know the Indian, whom, at the
first moment, no one else had recognized.

Not far off, in a grove of Cottonwood trees up the valley, there came
forth from the side of the hill a spring of singularly bright and cool
water, of which Uncle Jeff was particularly fond; as were, indeed, the
rest of us. Clarice made it a practice every evening, just before we
returned home from our day's work, to fetch a large pitcher of water
from this spring, that we might have it as cool and fresh as possible.

It happened that one afternoon, in the spring of the previous year, she
had set off with this object in view, telling Rachel where she was
going; but she had just got out of the enclosure when she caught sight
of one of the cows straying up the valley.

"I go after her, Missie Clarice; you no trouble youself," cried Rachel.

So Clarice continued her way, carrying her pitcher on her head. It was
somewhat earlier than usual, and having no especial work to attend to at
home, she did not hurry. It was as warm a day as any in summer, and
finding the heat somewhat oppressive, she sat down by the side of the
pool to enjoy the refreshing coolness of the air which came down the
canon. "I ought to be going home," she said to herself; and taking her
pitcher, she filled it with water.

She was just about to replace it on her head, when she was startled by
the well-known Indian "Ugh!" uttered by some one who was as yet
invisible. She at first felt a little alarmed, but recollecting that if
the stranger had been an enemy he would not have given her warning, she
stood still, with her pitcher in her h