"Deerfoot turned to walk away," continued the young Shawanoe; "he
had slept many times in the wood, and he was not afraid, but he had
not taken many steps when some one called him. It was too dark to
see, but the voice was of a boy. While Deerfoot waited he threw a
heavy, blanket over his shoulders and made Deerfoot walk back to the
cabin. He asked him to enter the window where the father could not
see him, and he told Deerfoot he would place him in his bed and he
should have food."

The narrator paused in his story and glanced toward Otto Relstaub.
Jack, with a laugh, looked at the stubby youngster, who was blushing
deeply and holding one hand over his face, the fingers spread so far
apart that he could see the others. Otto was also smiling, and his
hand could not begin to hide it, so that each side of his mouth wits
in sight.

"Deerfoot was too proud to receive the offer of the boy, but he took
the blanket."

"And mine gracious!" struck in the lad again; "didn't mine fader
whip me for dat? He proke up three hickory sticks onto me and kept
me dancing out of de cabin and in again, and over the roof, till I
vos so disgusted as nefer vos."

"How did you explain the absence of the blanket?" asked Jack.

"I told mine fader I didn't know not any nodings apout it, and he
whipped me 'cause I didn't know vot I did know, and, when Deerfoot
brought pack de blanket next day, den he knows dat I lied and he