"I guess I give it because I haven't any other I intend to be called by," she answered. "And you will cut loose from this outfit?" he asked. "You will come with me, little girl, across there into God's country, where you must belong." "You won't let them look down on me?" "If any one looks down on you, it will be because of something you will do in the future, 'Tana," he said, looking at her very steadily. "Understand that, for I will settle it that no one knows how I came across you. And you will go?" "I--will go." "Come, now! that's a good decision--the best you could have made, little girl; and I'll take care of you as though you were a cargo of gold. Shake hands on the agreement, won't you?" She held out her hand, and the old squaw in the corner grunted at the symbol of friendship. Akkomi watched them with his glittering eyes, but made no sign. It surely was a strange beginning to a strange friendship. "You poor little thing!" said Overton, compassionately, as she half shrank from the clasp of his fingers. The tender tone broke through whatever wall of indifference she had built about her, for she flung herself face downward on the couch, and sobbed passionately, refusing to speak again, though Overton tried in vain to calm her. CHAPTER III. THE IMAGE-MAKER. The world was a night older ere Dan Overton informed Lyster that they would have an addition of one to their party when they continued their journey into the States. On leaving the village of Akkomi but little conversation was to be had from Dan. In vain did his friend endeavor to learn something of the white squaw who swam so well. He simply kept silence, and looked with provoking disregard on all attempts to surprise him into disclosures. But when the camp breakfast was over, and he had evidently thought out his plan of action, he told Lyster over the sociable influence of a pipe, that he was going over to the camp of Akkomi again. "The fact, is, Max, that the girl we saw yesterday is to go across home with us. She's a ward of mine." "What!" demanded Max, sitting bolt upright in his amazement, "a ward of yours? You say that as though you had several scattered among the tribes about here. So it is a Kootenai Pocahontas! What good advice was it you gave me yesterday about keeping clear of Selkirk Range females? And now you are deliberately gathering one to yourself, and I will be the unnecessary third on our journey home. Dan! Dan! I wouldn't have thought it of you!" Overton listened in silence until the first outburst was over.