An unexpected canoe entering a lake so secluded and so seldom visited as
this lake must needs awaken the keenest surprise, and especially in the
case of a party situated as this one was. Ray, who had just returned
from a berry-picking trip over at the "blow down," and Old Cy, carrying
his suggestive rifle, were at the landing some time before this canoe
reached it, while Angie and Chip waited almost breathlessly on the cabin
piazza. A stout, bare-headed Indian, clad in white man's raiment, was
paddling. He glanced at the two awaiting him at the landing, with big
black, emotionless eyes, and then up to the cabin.
As his canoe now grated on the sandy beach close by, he laid aside his
paddle, stepped forward and out, drew his craft well up, and folding
his arms glanced at Old Cy again, as if waiting for a welcome. None was
needed, however, for on the instant, almost, came an exclamation of joy
from Chip, and with a "Hullo, Poppy Tomah," she was down the bank,
with both her hands in his.
A faint smile of welcome spread over his austere face as he looked down
at the girl, but not a word, as yet, came.
Old Cy, quick to see that he was a friend, now advanced.
"We're glad to see ye," he said, "an' as ye seem to be a friend o'
the gal's, we'll make ye welcome."
The Indian bowed low, and a "How do," like a grunt, was his answer. A
calm, slow, motionless type of a now almost extinct race, as he seemed
to be, he would utter no word or move a step farther until invited. But
now, led by Chip, he advanced up the path.
"It's Tomah, old Poppy Tomah," she said with pride, as Angie rose to
meet them, "and he's the only body who was ever good to me."
"I am glad to see you, sir," Angie said, with a gracious bow and smile,
"and you are welcome here."
"I thank the white lady--I not forget," came the Indian's dignified
answer with a stately bow.
Not a word of greeting for Chip or of surprise at finding her here--only
the eagle glance, accustomed to bright sunlight or to following the
flight of a bird far out of white man's vision.
"We shall have supper soon," Angie added, uncertain what to say to this
impassive man, "and some for you."
It was a deft speech, for Angie, accustomed to take in every detail of a
man from the condition of his nails to the cut of his clothing, as all
women will, had ere now absorbed the appearance of this swarthy redskin,
and was not quite sure whether to invite him to share their table or say
nothing.
But the Indian solved his own problem, for spying the outdoor fire to
which Old Cy now retreated, he bowed again and strode away toward it.
"Me cook here?" he said to Old Cy. With an "Of course, an' you're
welcome to," the question was settled.
Chip soon drew near, and now for the first time the Indian's speech
seemed to return, and while Old Cy busied himself about the cooking,
these two began to visit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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