Ernest had not been quite sure whether he would be able to understand or speak English, but having been brought up among white people, he was as familiar with English as most white boys of his age. Ernest looked in the direction pointed out by the boy. At the distance of a hundred rods he saw a rude log house, which seemed to contain but one room. Smoke was curling from a chimney projecting from the roof. Outside sat an Indian, about forty years of age, smoking a pipe. He seemed busily thinking, having the grave face characteristic of the average Indian. He did not immediately notice the approach of his little son. But when they were near, the Indian boy uttered a cry, pronouncing some Indian word which possibly meant "father." Then the red man looked up, and his grave face changed as he recognized his boy in the company of a young white stranger. He rose hastily from his seat, and advanced quickly to meet the two who were approaching. "What has happened?" he asked in clear and distinct English. "Your little boy fell into the water," explained Ernest. "And you saved him?" "Yes," answered Ernest, modestly. "I saw him fall, and jumped in after him." "Was the water deep?" "About so deep," said Ernest, placing his hand about five feet from the ground. "Then he would have been drowned if you had not been near?" "Yes, if he could not swim." "He is too young to swim. But you are wet," added the Indian, noticing for the first time the condition of Ernest's clothes. "Yes, a little." "Come in," said the Indian abruptly. He led the way into the log cabin. There was a stove in the centre of the room, and the air was so heated as to be uncomfortable. As he led the child in, a stout Indian woman came forward with a cry and took him in her arms. Her husband rapidly explained what had happened. She instantly stripped the clothes from the child, and put on a dry change. "Now," said the Indian, turning to Ernest, "take off your wet clothes." Though Ernest knew that it was wise to do so, he felt bashful about removing them in presence of the woman. But his Indian host brought from a nail, on which they hung, a pair of buckskin breeches of his own, and offered them to Ernest for his temporary use. Ernest no longer hesitated, but made the substitution. As the Indian was four or five inches taller than himself, the legs covered his feet. He laughed as he saw how they looked, and the Indian's serious face relaxed a little from the same cause. "Now I will dry your clothes," he said. He took a chair and, hanging the wet garments over the back, placed it very near the stove. Ernest hardly liked to lose so much time, but he knew that it would not be safe to wear the trousers in their soaked condition. "You speak English very well," he said, turning to the Indian. "Yes, I have spent much time with white people," was the answer. "Do you support yourself by hunting?" went on Ernest.