that
reached their long, strong arms out over the heads of all passers-by, in
a sort of priestly benediction?

Where did the Indian trail lead to? To the West. But leaves were strewn
thick along it now. The Indian had gone, to come back no more. Ever to
the West points the Indian's path. Ever down to the great gold shore of
the vast west sea leads the Indian's path. And there the waves sweep in
and obliterate his foot-prints forever.

The two half-wild children who had disappeared down the dim trail a few
moments before, now suddenly re-appear. They are eager and excited.
This boy cannot be above ten years old; yet he looks old as a man. The
girl may be twelve, fifteen, or even sixteen. Age at such a period is a
matter of either blood or climate. She has a shock of unkempt hair; she
wears a tattered dress of as many colors as Jacob's coat. She has one
toeless boot on one foot; on the other she wears a shoe so big that it
might hold both her feet. Down over this shoe rolls a large red woolen
stocking, leaving her shapely little ankle bleeding from
brier-scratches. In her hand she swings a large, coarse straw hat by its
broad red ribbons. Her every limb is full of force and fire; her voice
is firm and resolute, but not rapid. Hers is a splendid energy, needing
but proper direction.

Her brother, who puffs and pants at her side, is named Johnny; but the
wild West, which has a habit of naming things because they look it, has
dubbed him "Stumps," since he is short and fat. He is half-clad in a
pair of tattered pants, a great straw hat, and a full, stuffy, check
shirt, which is held in subjection by a pair of hand-made woolen
suspenders--the work of his sister.

Both are out of breath--both are looking back wildly; but Stumps huddles
up again and again close under his sister's arm, as if he fears he might
be followed, and looks to her for protection. She draws him close to
her, and then looking back, and then down into his upturned face, says
breathlessly:

"Stumps! Oh, Stumps, did you get 'em, Stumps?"

The boy shrinks closer to his sister, and again looking back, and then
seeing for a certainty that he is not followed, he grows bolder and
says:

"Git 'em, Carats? Look there! And that 'un is your'n, Carats; and you
can have both of 'em if you want 'em, for I don't feel hungry now,
Carats," and here he hitches up his pants, and wipes his nose on his
sleeve.

"Why, Stumps, don't you feel hungry now?" Then suddenly