f provisions to be served out, and as soon as fires could be
lighted and the food cooked we all sat down to our repast. We at first
were too hungry to talk, but I gleaned from one or two remarks made by
my friends that their family had escaped from the Indians, and were
encamped for the winter at some distance to the eastward. There was
plenty of dry underwood about, so we had made a blazing fire, round
which we were seated. We had all lighted our pipes, and Obed was about
to begin his narrative, when an Ottoe Indian came and said a few words
to John Pipestick, who was sitting with us.

"Our chief, Waggum-winne-beg, is anxious to see you," said he to me.
"He feels very ill, and as he believes you to be a mighty medicine-man,
he thinks that you can certainly cure him."

I knew that there was no use in denying my power, so I at once got up to
go and see the old man, accompanied by John as interpreter. He was
lying down on a mat, with his head resting on a block of wood which
served him as a pillow. He sat up as I entered, and with unusual warmth
expressed his pleasure at seeing me. I merely give the substance of
what he said, for he addressed a long speech to me, which he believed
would have a powerful effect on my feelings.

"Stranger," he began, "you have met with friends, and undoubtedly you
contemplate leaving the tents of the red-skins to accompany them whither
they are going. Think well before you leave us. You shall be to us a
son and a brother; we will adopt you; we will clothe you; we will paint
you; you shall become like one of us in all things. I told you that I
would give you one of my daughters. That was when I loved you a little.
Now I love you much I will give you two. One does not surpass the
other. Both are superior to any of their sex in my tribe, and I may
venture to say in the world. I told you of Firefly's accomplishments;
her sister Glow-worm is equal to her. You shall have a large tent where
they can dwell together in harmony, for among their other perfections
their tongues are never addicted to wrangle. Take them, then, my
friend: be my son, and be happy."

This pathetic appeal did not influence me as forcibly as
Waggum-winne-beg had hoped it might do. I did my best not to hurt his
feelings, but I declined his offer. When he heard my decision he burst
into tears.

"If it must be so," he said at last, commanding himself, "so it must
be."

Having thus delivered himself, he, li