e same instant that a lithe
young figure appeared from the direction of the creek. Enoch ran to his
old friend and hugged him in his delight. "Ain't I glad you've come,
'Siah! We got most of the work done; we're goin' to get lots of nice
ashes, too. We're goin' ter have races and a wrastling match after
dinner."

"Hullo! who's this?" said 'Siah, pointing across the clearing.

Enoch turned to see the Indian youth, Crow Wing, striding up from the
water's edge. A good half of the boys had turned with shouts of welcome
to meet him, for he was popular with them. Ordinarily Crow Wing was a
very social fellow and taught the white boys to make arrows, string
their bows, build canoes, and set ingenious snares. "I don't want him
here!" declared Enoch to the ranger.

"Tut, tut, what do you care? There's no need in your making an enemy of
that fellow, Nuck. Let him be."

"But think how he used me the other night when I was trying to find out
about that man in the woods! I don't like him."

"Well, we can't like everybody in this world," said Bolderwood,
philosophically. "We gotter take folks as we find 'em--that's my motter.
You let the Injin stay. He's come to help and to have the fun arterward;
you sent 'round the invitation pretty promisc'us like, an' I calkerlate
you can't ask him to leave 'thout makin' yerself mighty onpop'lar. Take
my advice an' let him stay."

So, much against his will, Enoch did so. But he and the Indian lad
avoided each other and nothing Crow Wing did could gain any word of
approbation from his young host. However, Crow Wing and Bolderwood were
in time to help do the heaviest of the work and soon the last stump was
out of the soil and piled upon a flaming pyre. The several bonfires
could not spread to the underbrush, so the boys were able to leave them
for the time and rush away to the creek for a swim before dinner. After
they had washed off the smut and smoke, they engaged in races and in
diving matches until the horn blew to recall them to the house. In all
aquatic sports Lot Breckenridge was the master, for even Crow Wing could
not perform the tricks that he could, nor could the Indian swim so far
nor so fast.

Mistress Harding had arranged two long tables outside the cabin, making
them of planks and "horses," and spreading her unbleached sheets over
them for table-cloths. The girls had picked flowers and decorated the
tables very prettily. There were all kinds and conditions of dishes for
use-