Paul turned back toward the center of his island, inexpressibly lonely for the while.  Again he was a solitary being in the vast, encircling wilderness, and, in feeling at least, no one was nearer than a thousand miles away.  He walked as swiftly as he could to the cove, where the supper fire still smoldered, and he sought companionship in the light and warmth that came from the bed of coals.  No amount of hardship, no amount of experience could change Paul’s vivid temperament, so responsive to the influences of time and place.  He sat there, his knees drawn up to his chin, and the ring of darkness came closer and closer; but out of it presently arose the tread of footsteps, and all the brightness and cheeriness returned at once to the boy’s face.

Jim Hart walked into the rim of the firelight, and his long, thin, saplinglike figure looked very consoling to Paul.  He doubled into his usual jackknife formation and, sitting down by the fire, looked into the coals.

“Well, Paul,” he said, “I’ve seen ’em off, an’ a-tween you and me, I’d rather be right here on this here haunted islan’, a-hobnobbin’ with Injun ghosts an’ havin’ a good, comfortable, easy time, than be dodgin’ braves, an’ feelin’ every minute to see ef my scalp is on out thar among the Injun villages.”

“You don’t think they’ll be taken?” asked Paul, in some alarm.

Long Jim Hart laughed scornfully.

“Them fellers be took?” he said.  “Why, they are the best three woodsmen in North Ameriky, an’, fur that, in the hull world.  Nobody can take ’em, an’ if they wuz took, nobody could hold ’em.  You could have Henry Ware tied to the stake, with fifty Shawnees holdin’ him an’ a thousand more standin’ aroun’, an’ he’d get away, certain sure.”

Paul smiled.  It was an extravagant statement, but it restored his confidence.

“And meanwhile we are safe here, protected by ghosts,” he said.  “Do you believe in ghosts, Jim?”

Jim Hart looked up at the black rim of the forest, and then edged a little closer to the fire.

“No, I don’t,” he said, “but sometimes I’m afeard of ’em, jest the same.”

Paul laughed.

“That’s about the way I feel, too,” he said, “but they’re mighty handy just now, Jim.  They’re keeping us safe on this island.  You won’t deny that?”

“No, I won’t,” said Jim; “but at night time I’m goin’ to leave ’em all by themselves in the trees over at their end uv of the island.”

“So am I,” said Paul; and ten minutes later both were sound asleep.

CHAPTER XI

A SUDDEN MEETING