After a little he heard low voices, and then movement, and opened his eyes.  He could feel Minnetaki’s gentle hand stroking his face and hair, as if weaning him to sleep, and at his feet he saw Mukoki, the old warrior, crouching like a lynx, his beady eyes glaring at him.  The glare fascinated Roderick.  He had seen it in Mukoki’s eyes before, when the Indian believed that injury had come to those he loved; and when the white boy saw it now, bent upon himself, he knew that he, too, had become more than a friend to this savage pathfinder of the wilderness.  Minnetaki’s caressing hand and the fearful anxiety in the crouching posture of the old hunter thrilled him, and two words fell from his lips before they knew that he had come back into life.

“Hello, Muky!”

Instantly the old Indian was at his side, kneeling there silent, trembling, his face twitching with joy, his eyes gleaming, and where he had crouched a moment before there came Wabigoon, smiling down upon Rod in his own bursting happiness, which was only held in check by Minnetaki’s hand and the almost inaudible “Sh-h-h-h!” that fell from her lips.

“You right—­me wrong,” the white boy heard Mukoki saying.  “You save Minnetaki—­kill Woonga.  Very much dam’—­dam’—­dam’—­brave man!”

Mukoki was pressed back by Wabi’s sister before he could say more, and a cool drink of spring water was placed to Roderick’s lips.  He felt feverish and the water gave him new strength.  He turned his face to Minnetaki, and she smiled at him.  Then he saw that the dead outlaw had been removed from the cabin.  When he made an effort to raise himself a little the girl helped him, and rolled a blanket under his shoulders.

“You’re not so badly hurt as I thought you were, Rod,” she said.  “That is, you’re not dangerously hurt.  Mukoki has dressed your wound, and you will be better soon.”  Wabigoon, coming nearer, put both arms around his lovely little sister and kissed her again and again.

“Rod, you’re a hero!” he cried softly, gripping his comrade’s hand.  “God bless you!”

Rod blushed, and to restrain further effusions closed his eyes.  During the next quarter of an hour Minnetaki prepared some coffee and meat, while both Mukoki and Wabi cared for the sledge-dogs outside.

“To-morrow, if you are stronger, we’re going to take you on to Kenegami House,” the girl said to him.  “Then you can tell me all about your adventures during the winter.  Wabi has told me just enough about your battles with the Indians and about the old skeletons and the lost gold-mine to set me wild.  Oh, I wish you would take me with you on your hunt for gold!”

“By George, I wish we could!” exclaimed Rod with enthusiasm.  “Coax Wabi, Minnetaki—­coax him hard.”

“You’ll coax him, too, won’t you, Rod?  But then, I don’t suppose it will do any good.  And father and mother wouldn’t listen to it for a moment.  All of them are so afraid that some harm is going to befall me.  That’s why they sent me from Wabinosh House just before you boys returned.  You see the Indians were more hostile than ever, and they thought I would be safer at Kenegami House.  How I do wish they’d let me go!  I’d love to hunt bears, and wolves, and moose, and help you find the gold.  Please coax him hard, Roderick!”