“Yaw; see’d somebody else, too.”

The deep crimson that suffused the beautiful captive’s face, even to the very temples, showed the stolid Dutchman that it was not necessary for him to mention the other person’s name.

“Yaw; see’d him, too.”

“And what did he say?”

“Didn’t say much, only grin and laughed.  De dunderin’ nigger liked to kill me.”

Miss Prescott was dumbfounded to hear her lover spoken of in this manner.

“Why, what do you mean, my friend?  Why do you speak of him in that manner?”

“He jumped down out of a tree on top of mine head, and nearly mashed it down lower dan my shoulders.  Den he rolled round, kicked up his heels and laughed at me.”

“Of whom are you speaking?  Lieutenant Can—­”

“A big nigger dat called himself Cato.”

“Oh, I thought—­” and the embarrassed girl covered her face to hide her confusion and disappointment.

“See’d him too,” said Hans, pleasantly.

“Who?”

“Lieutenant Canfield,” he whispered.

“Where is he? what did he say? when shall I see him?  Oh! do not keep me in suspense.”

“De Huron Injin, him and anoder nigger am out in de woods waitin’ for de night to come, when I’m goin’ for to take you out to dem.”

“But Keeway—­your wife?”

“Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock?  Yaw, she mine frow; been married six—­seven years.  Nice name dat.  Know what Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock means?”

“No, I have never heard,” replied Miss Prescott, thinking it best to humor the whims of her friend.

“It means de ‘Lily dat am de Same Shape all de Way Down,’ which am her.  What you ax?”

“But will your Lily allow me to depart?”

“Dat am what I’m going for to tell you.  I’m going fishing purty soon, and won’t be back till de arternoon.  When I come back we’ll have fish for supper.  De Huron Injin give me something for to put in de fish, dat will put mine frow and de little ones to sleep, so dat dey won’t wake up when we go out de wigwam.”

“And I suppose you do not wish me to eat of them?”

“No, for you’d get to sleep too, den I shall have to carry you.”

“There is no danger of my having much appetite after what you have told me.”

“Den you won’t forget.  Remembers dat—­I t’inks I feels better.”

Hans Vanderbum caught a glimpse of his amiable wife in the door of his lodge at this moment, which was the cause of the sudden change in his conversation.  Suiting his action to his words, he arose and said: 

“I t’inks I feels better, Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock, and guesses I go fishing.”

“I guess you might as well.”

“Mine dear frow, shust gits te line and bait, while I lights mine pipe.”

His wife complied, and a few minutes later Hans Vanderbum sallied forth fully equipped for duty.  He did not forget to tell his partner several times not to prepare dinner until his return, and she also promised this, from some cause or other, she being in a far better humor than usual.