be at the head o' 'em all in this would hev to do nothin' else all
his life."

"That is so," said Paul.

"Jim, thar ain't no earthly chance for you," said Shif'less Sol.

"I guess I've got you this time, anyhow," said Jim, with a deep chuckle of
satisfaction. "Jest look at that thar board, Sol Hyde. Ef you ain't druv
into a corner so you can't move this way nor that, then you can hev the
huntin' shirt right off my back."

Shif'less Sol examined the deerskin square attentively.

"Blamed ef it ain't so," he said in a tone of deep disgust. "It wuz an
accident, nuthin' but an accident, or else I've been talkin' too much."

"That's what you're always doin', Sol Hyde--talkin' too much."

"Then we'll jest try it over ag'in, an' I'll show you what it is to play
ag'inst a real smart man."

They were deep in a fresh game a few moments later, and Paul went outside.
He was glad to see them so interested, because he knew that otherwise the
curse of dullness might fall upon them.

The air was raw and chill, and, although the snow and ice were gone, the
lake and the hills beyond looked singularly cold. But Paul was neither
uncomfortable nor unhappy. He was clothed warmly, and he had food in
abundance and variety. Trusty comrades, too, surrounded him. Life at
present seemed very pleasant.

He strolled up the island toward the trees that contained the Indian
bodies, and after a while returned toward the home in the hollow. A warm,
mellow light gleamed from its rude window, and Paul's heart throbbed with
something of the feeling that one has only toward "home."

He opened the door and entered, just in time to hear Shif'less Sol's cry
of triumph:

"Thar, Jim Hart, ef that don't settle you, I'd like to know what will!
Now, who's doin' too much talkin'?"

"I can't see jest how it happened," said Jim Hart ruefully.

"No, an' you never will. Them things are too deep fur you. It's only
eddicated men, like me an' Paul, that kin see to the bottom o' 'em."

"You're even, as it's game and game," said Paul, "so let's rest now. Henry
and Tom ought to be coming pretty soon."

"An' they'll be ez hungry ez a hull pack uv wolves," said Jim Hart, "so I
guess I'd better be cookin'. Here, Sol, give me them strips uv deer meat
an' buffalo."

"I shorely will," said Shif'less Sol. "Thar is one thing, ef it is only
one, that you kin do well, Jim Hart, an' it's cook."

The two, in the most friendly fashion, went about preparing the supper.