into the tree."

"Oh, Pete did that. He was keeping an eye over you."

"Who is Pete?"

"My Indian; the one who generally travels with me. You surely must
have met him."

"No, I never did."

"But this is his canoe! How did you get it, then? It must be a sign
of special favour, for I never knew him to let any one have his
favourite canoe before."

"A big Indian left it with me the night of the great storm when he
brought his little child to our place. It is there now."

"That must have been Pete!" Dane exclaimed in astonishment. "I have
not seen him for several weeks, and did not know what had happened to
him. It is very seldom that he leaves me for such a length of time. I
am puzzled, though, about the child."

"He said that its mother is dead, and he wanted us to look after it for
one moon, and maybe two. I hope he will leave it with us a long time,
for we are very fond of it."

"Ah, now I understand," and Dane's eyes wandered thoughtfully out upon
the river. "Poor Pete, he must be making up for lost time. It is just
like him. He is a great Indian."