Page:Nattie Nesmith (1870).pdf/90

 and jabbering over what seemed bowls of bread and milk, might be a company of fiends, for all Nattie knew. They were so intently occupied with each other that nonce of them so much as glanced in her direction; so the bewildered child thought that she might look about her, and, perhaps, hear what was being said, without attracting attention.

Such a low, black, smoky hut as she was in! There were raccoon skins stretched on the walls, stags' horns piled in the corners, no floor, and no windows but rough unshapely holes, cut in the timbers here and there, through which Nattie could feel a cold wind blowing. She was suddenly seized with a fit of sneczing. This caused the swarthy faces at the fire to be turned toward her, and directly the whole group were standing around the rude lounge on which she was lying.

"Then the daughter of the pale-face has awoke from sleep at last," said the old Indian, who was known at home as the chief, North Wind.