"Why, just a sample of all the good things a boy can be. Same as you."
The explanation seemed sufficient, and Marcel's eyes were turned dreamily upon the red patch on the side of the stove.
"'Ess," he agreed.
"Well, Uncle Steve travelled a great, long way. It was dreadful hard. There were bears, and wolves, I guess, and queer Indian folk, and rivers, and lakes, and forests; forests much bigger and darker than boy's ever seen."
"Wos thems bigger than the Sleepers' forest?" The challenge was instantly taken up.
"Oh, yes."
"An' darker, an' fuller of debble-men?"
"Much darker, and there were no devil-men, because there just aren't any."
"No. Course not," the boy agreed readily.
"That's so. Well, Uncle Steve came a long, long way, and his dogs were tired, and his Indians were tired——"