AN ESCAPE, AND A NEW ENEMY. 141 
"Be still, Carlo!" commanded Mr. Button. "What 
is it?" he added more sharply to the new-comer, forget- 
ting that the Ayans spoke and understood only their own 
language. 
But, to the surprise of all, the visitor, though evidently 
one of the tribe, replied in broken English. By the dim 
light they could make out that it was the ill-favored 
squaw to whose pappoose Ted had given the sugar. 
" S-s-t ! " she hissed, looking over her shoulder. " Bad 
Injun hear. No speak loud." 
"What do you want ? " 
"You 'fraid, 'cause find white girl's han'chif." 
The boys gathered more closely about the speaker. 
Mr. Button's voice trembled in spite of himself. 
"Well, well, my good woman, go on. Is — is she 
alive ? " 
" White girl not hurt. Nobody hurt. Bad Injuns go 
look for white people comin'. Think he come steal furs. 
Injun take han'chif." 
The man gave a long sigh of relief. 
" What do your tribe mean to do ? " he asked. 
" They go hunt for white people. P'r'aps kill 'em." 
" And we — " 
" You stay here with squaws." 
There was no trace of humor in the woman's voice 
or face. She was simply telling facts as she knew 
them. 
" You git off to-night, go tell white peonle," she added, 
rising to leave the hut. 
