Page:Cornelia Meigs-The Pirate of Jasper Peak.djvu/236



HE woman made only an inarticulate sound of welcome and motioned Hugh to come in. Like all Indians she preferred to converse through grunts and signs rather than by means of  such English as she had at her command. When Hugh had entered she made no further comment,  merely pointed silently at a bunk in the corner.

There, half propped up amid a mass of torn and dirty blankets, lay Half-Breed Jake. He did not move or speak when Hugh came near, but his  little pale eyes turned quickly and his heavy black  brows knitted in a scowl. The boy stood looking from one to another, puzzled, not yet knowing  the meaning of that signal flying above the roof. At last the Indian woman, seeing his bewilderment, condescended to explain. 224