is eyes flashing fire and
his breast heaving at the remembrance of his exploits. This reply was
made in the Shawnee language, as he spoke it as well as one of their
warriors; and, as Hans also understood it, the conversation was now
carried on in that tongue.

"When did you see Annie Stanton last?" inquired the Dutchman, showing
considerable interest.

"Several moons ago, when the sun was in the woods and the waters were
asleep."

"Is her husband, that rascally Ferrington, living?"

Oonomoo replied that he was.

"And is their baby, too?"

"Yes, they have two pappooses."

"Dunder and blixen!" exclaimed Hans Vanderbum, and then resuming the
English language, or rather his version of it, he added:

"Dat gal wanted to marry mit me once."

"Why no marry den?" inquired Oonomoo, also coming back to the more
difficult language.

"She wan't te right kind of a gal--she wan't like my
Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock, dat is de same shape all de way down
from her head to her heels. So I let dat Ferrington have her."

The Huron, who understood all about that matter, indulged in a broad
smile at this remark. Whatever his business was, it was manifest he
was in no hurry, else he would not have indulged in this by-play of
words with his friend.

"You doesn't t'ink de baby will dies, does you?"

"No--in de settlement--Shawnee can't git her now--don't live off in de
woods like as dey did afore."

"Dat's lucky for her; don't t'ink dey will get her there, 'cause dey
tried it once--dat time, you remember, when we was all in de HUNTER'S
CABIN in de woods, and you came down de chimney, and I watched and kept
de Shawnee off."

The Huron signified that he remembered the circumstance well.

"Dem was great times," added Hans Vanderbum, calling up the
recollection of them. "I left de village one hot afternoon, and walked
all de way t'rough de woods to get to de cabin to help dem poor folks.
We had mighty hard times. I catched a cold and couldn't shtop my
dunderin' nose one night when it wanted to shneeze, and dat's de way de
Shawnee catched me. Twan't so bad arter all," added Hans Vanderbum,
musingly, "'cause if it wasn't for dat I wouldn't got my
Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock."

"How soon go back?" asked Oonomoo.

"To de village, do you mean?"

"Yeh."

"Any time afore noon will does, so Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock gits
de fish for our dinner."

"One, two hours," said the Huron, looking up at the sky, "den sun gi