For a moment Russ or Laddie did not know what to think. The coming of an Indian was so sudden that it surprised them. They were all alone, too, for Uncle Fred and their father had gone back to the house to get shovels and picks to dig up the rocks back of the spring.
"Water? Indian get drink water?" asked the Redman again.
"Oh, he is a real Indian!" whispered Russ to his brother. "I see the feathers."
"Yes, and he's got a blanket on, same as the Indians have in the picture Mother showed us," added Laddie.
"Indian get drink!" went on the Redman, as he opened his blanket. The boys saw that he wore a pair of old and rather dirty trousers and a red shirt without a collar. Aside from the blanket and the feathers in his hair, he was not dressed much like an Indian, so the boys decided.
"There isn't much water here," said Russ, "but I guess you can get a drink. The spring has gone dry."
"Spring gone dry? That funny—plenty rain," said the Indian.
He stooped down and dipped the cocoanut shell in what little water was in the bottom of the spring.
However the Indian managed to get enough to drink, and then he seemed to feel better. He sat down on the ground near the two boys and pulled a package from inside his shirt. It was wrapped in paper and, opening it, the Indian took out some bread and what seemed to be pieces of dried meat. Then he began to eat, paying no attention to the boys.
