Then he held out the bundle toward the girl.

"White woman tak' babby, eh?" he asked,

But Jean hesitated, and drew back a little. This seemed to surprise
the Indian.

"Babby no hurt white woman," he explained. "Babby velly leetle. Babby
no home, no mamma."

No longer could Jean resist such an appeal, so stepping forward, she
took the bundle in her arms. Awkwardly she held it, uncertain what to
do. Then Old Mammy came to her aid, and relieved her of her burden.

"Why, chile, yo' doan know how to hol' a baby," she reproached. "Yo'
hol' it upside-down. Yo' nebber had 'sperience wif babies. Dis o'
woman'll show yo' how."

Seating herself upon a bench, she removed the blanket with which the
child was enwrapped. Jean dropped upon her knees by her side, and when
a little dusky face was exposed to view, she gave a cry of delight.

"Isn't it pretty!" she exclaimed. "And it's asleep, too."

The Indian's eyes shone with pleasure as he watched the girl's interest
in the little child.

"White woman tak' care babby, eh?"

"You want us to keep it?" Jean asked.