At the question the girl laughed shyly, and shook her head without speaking.
"I am but a man, and not the grizzled one. Wherefore should you run from me, little sister?"
"I had never seen such a man before."
The directness of the answer, given in a shy voice, astonished him. It was his turn to be embarrassed and he strove to turn the edge of the compliment.
"Never seen a white man before!" he cried in mock amazement.
"I did not say that I had never seen a white man before. I have seen many. The priest up at Fort of God, the doctor priest at the Last Hope, the factor there, and M'sieu Ainley who came to our camp yesternight. And there is also this fat man they call the governor—a great chief, it is said; though he does not look as such a great one should look. Yes, I have seen many white men, but none like thee before."
Hubert Stane was routed once more by the girl's directness, but strove to recover himself by a return of compliments.
"Well," he laughed, "for that matter there are none so many like thyself in the world. I wonder what thy name is?"
The girl flushed with pleasure at the compliment, and answered his question without reserve.
"I am Miskodeed."