ages, and I don't believe they care
enough about catching or slaying a single man to go to all that
trouble."

"Not so much trouble, perhaps, as you are apt to think. War is the
business of the American Indians, you know, as it is of all barbarous
people."

"But look at Ned Trimble and his friends. There are but three of them,
and I have no doubt that their security is in their strength--otherwise
they would not be so indifferent as to what is going on around them. You
remember they did not see us until we first spoke to them."

"So it appeared; but I have an idea that they knew of our presence
before Tim discovered them."

"They did not show it, at any rate."

"They looked surprised when we came up, but if we had been enemies
instead of friends I believe we would have been the surprised parties.
They have lived too long in the wilds of California to permit a party of
strangers to steal upon them unaware."

"But what is to become of us if Tim doesn't come back?"

"We shall have to put ourselves under the care of Shasta--that is, if he
gets well."

"Why do you call him _Shasta_? Where did you hear that name?"

"The only word I have heard him speak sounded like that, and I do not
know of any better name. Can you think of one?"

"No; that is good enough; let him be called Shasta, then. There may be a
greater Providence in our coming upon this island than we imagine."

"There is a Providence in everything that occurs, though it may be that
we are not always able to see it. Do you remember the copy we had so
often at school, 'Misfortunes are often blessings in disguise?'"

"Yes; but like the truths that were driven into our heads so often at
school, we fail to appreciate them until some occasion like this
impresses them upon our minds. But I declare, Howard, we are turning
philosophers."

"What better can we do, when there is nothing else to employ ourselves
about? We need all our philosophy at such a time."

"But we must not forget our patient, Shasta."

"True. He had gone almost out of my mind until you referred to him a
moment ago. Let us look at him."

The two had been stationed near the lower end of the island, and they
now walked back to where they had left the suffering stranger. What was
their surprise to see him standing on his feet, his blanket wrapped
around him, and his attitude and position such as to raise a strong
suspicion that he understood all that had taken place within the last
hour o