here. Everything was quiet, so we came along as we had arranged. When
I saw the lights in the windows I made sure all was right: still it
was a great relief when I heard the shout from the shore. I knew, of
course, that it wasn't a redskin's shout. Besides, Indians would have
kept quiet till we came alongside."

Very hearty were the commendations bestowed on the boy for his
courage and thoughtfulness.

"You behaved like an old frontiersman," Pearson said. "I couldn't
have done better myself. You only made one blunder from the time you
set out from shore."

"What was that?" Harold asked.

"You were wrong to pick the berries. The redskins, of course, would
find where you had landed, they'd see the marks where you lay down,
and would know that you had paddled away again. Had it not been for
their seeing the tracks you made in picking the berries they might
have, supposed you had started before daybreak, and had gone out of
sight across the lake; but them marks would have shown 'em that you
did not take to your canoe until long after the sun was up, and
therefore that you couldn't have made across the lake without their
seeing you, but must either have landed or be in your canoe under
shelter of the trees somewhere along the shore. It's a marvel to me
that they didn't find your traces, however careful you were to
conceal 'em. But that's the only error you made, and I tell you,
young un, you have a right to be proud of having outwitted a hull
tribe of redskins."