Having left Frank, Dick passed out of the cabin and walked slowly away. When he had passed beneath the thick shadows of some trees he felt a touch on his shoulder, and turned to find Old Joe close behind him.
“Gracious!” exclaimed the boy. “I didn’t know you were following. I didn’t hear you.”
“Little Hurricane keep him ear open,” grunted the old fellow. “Joe teach him to hear.”
“I know, Joe, but I was thinking, and I forgot.”
“Must never forget if um want to be like red man.”
“But—but something happened to make me forget.”
“Heap bad!”
“You are right, Joe. It was careless of me.”
“Heap much,” nodded the Indian. “Joe him teach Little Hurricane to hear snake in grass, bird in air, panther on moss—everything.”
“Yes, yes, you have taught me all that, Joe; but it is Indian lore, and sometimes I forget myself and know no more than a white man.”