Noticing the expression of interest and curiosity in the girl's eyes,
Dane smiled.

"Yes," he continued, "Pete always makes up for lost time. Five years
ago his first wife died, and he was away for over two months. It was
during the war when efforts were being made to keep the Indians true to
King George. It was a hard struggle, and James White, the deputy agent
of Indian affairs, was often at his wits' end. But at last a treaty
was signed at Fort Howe, when the Indians and the English all became
'one brother,' as the natives say. I found out afterwards that Pete
had a great deal to do with the signing of that treaty. He travelled
from camp to camp, meeting the Indians, and urging them to be loyal to
King George. He made up for lost time then, and I believe he is doing
so now. No doubt we shall hear from him soon."

"Do you think the Indians are becoming troublesome again?" Jean
somewhat anxiously asked.

"Not altogether this time. Our danger now is from the slashers, as
they will do their best to stir up the Indians. But Pete will be on
the lookout. He nipped a little game of theirs in the bud over a year
ago."

"How?" Jean was becoming keenly interested.

"Oh, he brought us news of a raid the slashers were about to make upon
the King's mast-cutters, so we were able to check them. Twenty of us
marched all day and night through the woods and fell upon the rebels
before they were awake. There was a lively tussle, but we cleaned them