"Yaw, I forgots him; I puts dem pullets in mine hat yesterday and I
dinks dey was lost; dat is looky, ain't it?"

"I don't see anything particularly lucky about it," said Jack, who
suspected that much of the lad's stupidity was assumed. A healthy
youngster never fails to have the organ of mirth well forward in
development, and the promptings of Otto's innate love of fun seemed
to have little regard for time, place or circumstances.

The American Indian is probably the most melancholy of the five
races of men; but even he is not lacking in the element of mirth
which it is maintained is often displayed by dumb animals.

When Deerfoot heard the explanation of Otto, he did not smile, but
with a grave expression of countenance gave his entire attention to
the paddle in his hand. The German sat with his back toward the
front of the canoe, the other two facing him, the Shawanoe being at
the rear. The shore was only a few rods away, the Mississippi being
much less agitated at the side than in the middle.

Without any display of effort, the warrior used the long paddle with
all the power he could put forth. Very soon the craft attained a
speed greater than either of the pale faces suspected.

"No," repeated Jack Carleton, "I can't see where there is any
special luck in finding the bullets in your hair; I shouldn't be
surprised if they had been there for a week. You must use a very
coarse-toothed comb."