Part 19 (2/2)

Ever shoot at one?”

”Never had that luck, though I've seen ainst the grain doing this hunting at such a queer ti before they have as strict laws up here as we have to protect such garizzlies?” asked Jerry

”They don't want to protect those fellows You've got a right to knock one over, or a wolf, any tihed Frank

An hour later they separated, Frank to look along one ridge, while Jerry had taken a notion to see what the other a the woods that covered the side of the valley He had not put up anything worth while, and was even thinking about heading back to the place where he had agreed tolittle accident occurred

Just as he was hurrying down a steep bank his foot caught in a vine, and he was hurled forith such violence that his head, coround, received such a blow that he was rendered unconscious

Frank never knew just how long he reht have been only a few minutes, or perhaps half an hour slipped by while he lay there When he finally opened his eyes he looked up into a dusky face, and realized that it belonged to an Indian!

CHAPTER XVII

AT THE CAMPFIRE OF THE CREES

Frank was not at all alarmed In the first place, he had been assured by Mr Mabie that these Crees were not inclined to be hostile Then, again, he saw that it was no fierce face of a warrior that bent over hi one of a child

”hello! Who are you?” he asked, a little weakly, for his head was still swi more or less froh the boy apparently had to nerve hi away

”And you foundhere, Little Mink?” Frank sat up as he spoke, though he realized that he would be unsteady on his feet when he tried to stand

”Teepee down by river, not far off Little Mink have snare for rabbit

Hio see if ketch one, find paleface here Think dead, then him open eyes Good!”

Frank was a about the ways of civilized Indians, having been a the to ape the et down to your camp, Little Mink? I feel weak after my tumble, and my own camp is far away,” he said

Now, Frank knew very well that a loud shout would, in all probability, have fetched Jerry to the spot He had an object inthis appeal to the Indian lad, and watched his dusky face closely as the other considered the proposal

Perhaps Frank, fearing a refusal, s really warranted At any rate, he succeeded in swerving the boy from a condition of caution to that of sympathy

”Little Mink help Him lead paleface to teepee,” he said, and the look that accompanied the words told Frank as plainly as words could have done that the boy was trusting in his honor not to betray the on to the lad, and in this fashi+on they went for half a mile or so, when the river was reached Presently Frank discovered signs of a ca over the thicket, and he also saw a conical skin teepee, while on the shore were three bullboats

As Little Mink caan an excited jabber that brought out a couple of bucks

”A hungry-looking lot all around,” was thehunter

He had seen that Little Mink did not look as though he had enjoyed a bountiful share of food lately, and the rest of the party were certainly no better off