Louis, who had been quite sure of success, was disheartened; not so
Hector.
"Do not let us give it up: my maxim is perseverance; let us try again, and again—ay, and a fourth and a fifth time. I say, never give it up; that is the way to succeed at last."
"You have ten times my patience, Hec."
"Yes; but you are more ingenious than I, and are excellent at starting an idea."
"We are a good pair then for partnership."
"We will begin anew and this time I hope we shall profit by our past blunders."
"Who would imagine that it is now more than a month since we lost
Catharine?"
"I know it—long, long, weary month," replied Louis; and he struck his axe sharply into the bark of the pine as he spoke, and remained silent for some minutes. The boys, wearied by chopping down the tree, rested from their work, and sat down on the side of the condemned canoe to resume their conversation. Suddenly Louis grasped Hector's arm, and pointed to a bark canoe that appeared making for the westernmost point of the island. Hector started to his feet, exclaiming, "It is Indiana returned!"
"Nonsense! Indiana!—it is no such thing. Look you, it is a stout man in a blanket coat."
"The Indians?" asked Hector, inquiringly.