“What did you do with Jim Albert? "

“Big rascal!  Jim gone Castine; never come back.”

“Castine, eh?  Well, you took him far enough away, at all events.”

“Heap rascal fetch heap money,” and Sewatis drew from beneath his blanket a bag which, on being opened, proved to be filled with gold pieces. " Hundred pound; more Jim worth alive.”

It was some time before Walter could understand the Indian’s meaning, and then the thought came that he had heard some one say the half-breed came to Portsmouth from the Penobscot River.

“Do you mean that there was a price set on Jim’s head?” he asked, eagerly.

“Hundred pound,” and Sewatis held up the bag once more.  “Now build mill.”

“But I have nothing to do with that,” Walter cried, as the Indian pushed the money toward him.

“Build mill.”

“But I surely can’t do it with your money, you must understand that.”

“Why?”

“Because it —–­you know I couldn’t.”

“Would from white man? "

“That is different.  If Master McCleary or Master Leavitt would lend it to me, taking a mortgage to secure themselves — "

Sewatis pushed his bag toward Walter once more, and when the latter shook his head, as if to refuse the loan, or gift, which ever it might be called, the Indian rose to his feet, pulling his blanket more closely around him.

“What is the matter?  Where are you going?”

Sewatis pointed toward the east, and moved slowly away.

“Come back!” Walter cried, entreatingly.  “Come back and help me as you did before.”

“Build mill?” and the Indian touched the bag of money with his foot.

“Do you mean that you won’t stay unless I use that gold? "

Sewatis nodded.

“Suppose I did take it ?”

The Indian seated himself as if to show he would remain.

It was fully an hour before Walter spoke again, and during that time he pondered over the matter in all its bearings.  It seemed much like taking an undue advantage of Sewatis to use his money, and yet there could be no question but that he was pained when it was refused.

“I don’t know why the fact of his being an Indian should prevent me from accepting the offer,” the boy said to himself.  “I would be perfectly willing to receive a loan from Master Leavitt, who has never shown half the friendship for me this red man has.”

Sewatis watched him intently, and finally pushed the bag nearer.

“Yes, I will take it,” Walter said, decidedly.  “It is only to be loaned, and until I can pay it back you shall have half the profits of the business.”

Sewatis nodded in approbation.

“And you are to stay here with me?”

“All time; now I call Injuns.”

Walter was wholly at a loss to understand the meaning of this remark until Sewatis rose to his feet, uttering a cry that might well have been mistaken for a night-owl.