CHAPTER VI
THE JAGUAR’S TRACK
One day, while poking her inquisitive little nose into Marian’s workbag, Esther fished up five or six knobby, roundish little lumps, demanding, “What are these, Marian?”
“Nasturtium seeds,” replied Marian carelessly.
“’Sturtium seeds?”
“Yes.”
“Why, Marian,” reproachfully; “why haven’t you been planting ’em? Don’t you know ’sturtium seeds are good to eat?”
Marian gazed steadily for a moment at the seeds in the little girl’s outstretched hand, then she slowly took them into her own.
“Pocahontas,” she said solemnly, “I never thought of that. Of course they are good to eat,—the seeds, leaves, flowers, stems, and all. We’ll plant them before the sun goes down to-night.”
“You’re a great squaw chief, you are,” said Esther scornfully. “Jennie! Dellie! Looky, here’s ’sturtium seeds been in Marian’s bag all this time, an’ she never thought of planting ’em.”
Jennie and Delbert came up excitedly. Jennie, too, was rather inclined to scorn at such evidence of Marian’s lack of thought, but Delbert threw his arms around her and planted vehement kisses on her cheeks.