Thus he came to where he could look through the still open door.
The child was there, and seemed to be holding her precious dolly in her arms as she rocked to and fro in a little chair; and Owen smiled to see that every now and then the diminutive maid would bend down and kiss the inanimate face with the greatest vigor.
Perhaps she was keeping her word and giving dolly the salute this new and "awfully nice" cousin had left for her.
The picture was something worth while carrying with him as he went out to commune with his thoughts and decide on his future.
Owen was just about tearing himself away, much against his will, when he became aware of a strange thing.
Apparently some one else was hovering around that darkened part of the stockade with the express purpose of peeping in at the door and feasting their eyes on the pretty picture disclosed, for he discovered a head between himself and the opening and which certainly did not belong to the old factor by any means.
The man wore a skin cap and must belong to the brigade of trappers working for the company, else why should he be here; but what right had he prowling around at the back of the factor's dwelling at this time of night?
Owen felt indignation taking hold of him, and this was increased tenfold when to his surprise he saw that the individual was actually beginning to glide noiselessly through the doorway.
It may be all very right for a cousin to do this, especially when invited by the little lady of the room to enter and make the acquaintance of her new doll, but in another it must appear a crime.
So Owen stood there, quivering with suspense and indignation, hardly knowing what he ought to do under the circumstances.