“How far?” I asked, eagerly.

“About fifty miles,” she replied. “They have great guns, and men dressed in many buttons; their wagons are drawn by horses with long ears.”

A fort, thought I, but remembering the treacherous nature of the people I was among, I repressed every sign of emotion, and tried to look indifferent.

“Should you like to see them?” questioned Egosegalonicha, as she was called.

“They are strangers to me,” I said, quietly; “I do not know them.”

“Are you sorry to live with us?”

“You do not have such bread as I would like to eat,” replied I, cautiously.

“And are you dissatisfied with our home?”

“You have some meat now; it is better than that at the other camping-ground. There we had no food, and I suffered.”

“But your eyes are swollen and red,” hinted she; “you do not weep for bread.”