"Will you please carry the buffalo in? I must give it to the owner all safe." Then he took the last bundle from the sleigh, and followed his father to the sitting-room.
"'Tis Dick, mother! I hear his voice;" and out rushed the whole group to meet and welcome him.
Dick walked in, his head erect, his eyes twinkling with fun, while about his mouth was a peculiarly mysterious smile which his mother understood very well.
He presented rather a strange appearance. On his head was a cap of fur with ear pieces fastened under the chin. Over this his common cap was tied with a scarf. His hands were protected by a pair of fur gloves with deep gauntlets.
He took these last off, and tossed them upon the table with an air of unconcern; then untied his scarf, and did the same with his cap.
"You must have come into a fortune somehow," said his father smiling. "I was never the owner of a pair of gloves like these. Are they yours, Dick?"
[CHAPTER VII.]
DICK'S STORY.
RICHARD drew a chair up to the fire and sat down.
"I'll tell you all about it," he began.