"I was sorry to do it, but I thought if I could make enough money from the Indians I could buy new batteries for myself and give the children back their toys.
"But most of the Indians were afraid of the electrical current which felt like needles, and I could not get many of them to come back after they had once tried it. So I made no money.
"Tom ran away, and then I stole Eagle Feather's horse. I thought maybe if I could sell the horse and get money enough to get a new machine that did not sting so hard, I could make money enough to buy the horse back.
"But everything went against me, and now I have nothing left. I am sorry I had to rip your Teddy bear apart, little girl, to get the wires on the batteries. And as for your cars, little boy, I hid them in farms and various places. I don't know where they are now, but the engine is all right and in running order."
He quickly loosened the wires, and the toy locomotive ran around the table on part of the stolen track.
"But my poor dear Sallie Malinda is dead!" cried Sue.
"No, I can sew her together again, if the batteries are all right," said Mrs. Brown.
"And the batteries are all right," said the hermit, who had heard what was said. "See, I'll make the eyes shine!"
He quickly did something to the wires and again the eyes of Sue's Teddy bear shone out bravely.
"I realize how wrong I was to take the children's things," went on the hermit, "but I knew no other way to get the batteries I needed. I only had my cow to sell, and I dared not part with her, for she gave me milk to live on. All the while I kept hoping my luck would be better.