He stalked inside the wigwam. The tent was deserted. The Indian woman had disappeared.
Naki was puzzled. He searched the woods near the tent.
Half way down the hill Naki came across a small wooden box, half covered with leaves. Naki opened it. In it he found half a dozen pieces of old jewelry, and an old fashioned daguerreotype of an Indian girl holding a baby in her arms.
Naki had been born and brought up in the woods. He kept his eyes turned to the ground, thinking to trace the footprints of Mother Eunice down the hill. On her departure she had, as she thought, buried her box of treasures. Then she had gone—where?
Naki discovered, midway on the hill, two pairs of footprints, which seemed to indicate that two persons had lately started up the hill. But they must have given up and gone down again.
Naki made up his mind to go at once to Stockbridge. Even though he could not trace the squaw, the testimony of the man who had seen Eunice’s mother die, the box of jewelry Naki had found—these proofs of Eunice’s identity would convince even Mr. Winthrop Latham.
Miss Stuart and Mr. Latham were at luncheon when Ceally entered the room. Miss Sallie knew, at once, something had happened.
“What is it, Ceally?” she asked.
“They have come!” said Ceally.
“Who?” Mr. Latham demanded.