"I wonder if she understands English?" thought Jasper. "Perhaps I could get her to ferry me across."
Acting upon this thought he called out:
"Halloo, there!"
The young girl turned quickly, and discovered Jasper, whom she had not before seen.
She stopped paddling, and asked, in a musical voice:
"White boy speak?"
"Yes," said Jasper. "Do you speak English?"
"A little."
"I want to go across the river. Will you take me in your canoe?"
The girl hesitated a moment, perhaps from uncertainty as to whether she could trust our hero, for she surveyed him attentively. It appeared that her impressions were favorable, for she turned her canoe to the shore and said, simply: