-+ TO CARIBOO AND BACK }--

I thought she wouldn’t miss it if I took just
one little thing.”

“What were you going to do with it?”

“Trade for a buffalo skin of my own, and
a pair of mocassins,” Arthur explained eagerly.
“T ain’t got a copper of money, nor a knife nor
even a piece of chalk; and the Indians, why they

won’t give you something for nothing!”
The professor was sorry for the boy, but he
still spoke sternly. ‘And to get something
for yourself you were willing to rob a little
friend who had always been kind to you!’

Arthur gulped. “TI’ll never steal again, I
swear it, if you'll forget it—this once—and
not tell the little girl.”

But before this Betty had opened her eyes
and was listening, though no one knew. Now
she surprised them by speaking.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Arthur? I'll give
you my ring if you like. Rings aren’t so im-
portant as moccasins are, when your shoes are
worn out.”

“Now go to sleep me darlint!’’ cried Mary.
“You'll keep your ring and the rest of your
trinkets, for sure there’s other ways of pro-
viding the needful for Arthur nor that.”

[79]