winter, and I ran behind the door. Mother gave you meat and hot drink,
and father warmed you and gave you a bag of potatoes. Oh!" he continued,
clasping Po-no-kah's knee, "_you_ know where our home is. Nearly every
night I dream that mother is calling us. Show me the way, please do.
Ka-te-qua says there are dreadful things in the forest that will eat me
up, but I am not afraid. Oh, do tell us the way home!"

The Indian gave a sharp look at the sobbing boy, and seemed in part to
understand his words. Stooping, he whispered in a stern tone: "No speak;
no tell Ka-te-qua;"--and without one glance of encouragement, he stalked
away to the spot where the other Indians had assembled, preparing for
the hunt.

The children saw him no more for weeks. Rudolph remembered his parting
words, and though he could not fully understand Po-no-kah's motive, he
faithfully obeyed his command. Not even to Tom did he relate what had
occurred.




IX.

INDIAN LIFE.


Rudolph and Kitty learned many things from the Indians that they never
would have studied in the rough school-house near their pretty home; and
they soon became familiar with many singular customs that at first
filled them with wonder.