"How much I owe you!" he said, looking gratefully at her.
"No, not much," she answered, with shy modesty. "Now eat, señor, or your breakfast will be cold."
"I must first rest a little," he returned, with a sigh of weariness, as he fell back exhausted upon his rude couch.
She caught up several deer and bear skins that lay scattered about, rolled them together and placed them as a pillow under his head; then drawing two small objects from beneath that one on which he had been lying, she held them up to his gaze, asking, "Do you value these, señor?"
"Indeed do I," he cried, stretching out an eager hand; "my precious little Bible and my medicine case! I am thankful beyond expression that they have been preserved to me. How did it happen, señora?"
She explained that she had seen them in the possession of his captor, had begged that they might be given to her, and the Indian, thinking them of little worth, had readily complied with her request.
He poured out renewed thanks as he took up his Bible and turned over the leaves, gazing upon it the while with loving, delighted eyes.
"An English book, is it not?" she asked, watching him with mingled surprise and curiosity.
"Yes," he said, "the Book of books; God's own holy Word. You have read it in Spanish, señora?"