CHAPTER VII.

THE LAD WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A GIRL.

While poor Todd was striving to scale the rocky ladder from which he had just fallen, another lad of about his own age had bounded up the steep pathway behind him with the speed and ease of a mountain-goat. He was tall and slender, straight as the lance shaft that he bore in one hand, and finely proportioned. The bronze of his skin and his long hair, black and glossy as the wing of a crow, showed him to be an Indian, though his clear-cut features expressed a lively intelligence, and exhibited none of the hopeless apathy so common to the moderns of his race. His body was naked to the waist, below which it was covered by a pair of fringed buckskin breeches, while his feet were encased in unornamented but serviceable moccasins having soles of goat-skin.

This new-comer was so startled by the unexpected sight of a stranger that he uttered the shout of amazement which had caused Todd to lose his hold. Bitterly regretting his impulsive outcry, and distressed at its result, the young Indian knelt beside the unconscious stranger, and gently lifting his head from the rocks against which it had struck, gazed eagerly into the face of the first white boy he had ever seen.

While he was thus occupied a second figure appeared toiling up the rugged path. It was that of a white man, venerable in aspect, but still sturdy of limb, and clad from head to foot in buckskin. He was a large man, and his massive head was covered with silvery hair, still thick and clustering in curls about his temples. He wore a flowing white beard, and his kindly face was as serenely placid as though the cares of life had touched him but slightly. At the present moment it was flushed from the exertion of climbing, and filled with an anxious curiosity at the astounding sight of a stranger in that place, and one who was at the same time in so sad a plight.

A few words from the Indian lad told all that he knew of what had just happened, and while he spoke the old man examined a slight wound in Todd's head, from which a stream of blood was trickling.

"It does not appear serious," he said at length, "and I believe that with care he will speedily recover. Remain thou here with him while I continue on to the castle and notify mother of what has happened. From her I will obtain a few things that be needful, and will quickly return. Then must we try and carry him down to the hut, for in his present condition I doubt if it would be possible for us to get him up to the castle."

The old man climbed the rock ladder with marvellous agility, and so hastened his movements that in less than five minutes he had returned, bringing a flask of water, some strips of cotton cloth, and a healing salve. The water did so much toward restoring Todd to consciousness that after a little he was able, with help, to regain his feet. Then, with many encouraging words, his new-found friends half carried, half led him back down the steep trail he had so recently climbed, and along the woodland pathway to the very hut in which he had already spent so much of that eventful day. Here they laid him on the couch of skins, and while the old man looked after his comfort, the Indian lad, taking a flint, steel, and bit of tinder from a recess of the chimney quickly started a fire with which to light the little apartment. Then he disappeared, while his companion tenderly bathed and dressed the wound in Todd's head. He uttered a pitying exclamation on discovering that his patient's hand was also injured, and bound it up with a soothing dressing. While doing these things he talked constantly; but when Todd, still dazed and feeling helplessly weak, made an effort to speak, the other bade him lie perfectly quiet and not attempt to talk until he should be stronger.

"Thy looks are those of one who has suffered much and is even now wellnigh starved," he said, "but very shortly thy hunger shall be relieved, and then will I commend thee to sleep, the restorer."

As he spoke the Indian lad returned, bringing a basket of food. Among its contents was a bowl of broth, which, after it had been warmed at the fire, was given to Todd, who eagerly drained it to the last drop. Then he sank wearily but contentedly back on his couch, and in another minute was fast asleep.

For some time the white man and the young Indian watched him in silence. Then the former said, in a low tone:

"The poor lad has evidently undergone a terrible experience, however it has happened; but now he is doing well, and will pull through beyond a doubt. Whence he came, by what means he was led to this place, and how he discovered the locality of Cliff Castle, are questions that I would gladly ask him, for in all the years that we have dwelt in this valley he is our first visitor. But on no account must he be disturbed until he wakes of his own accord, since complete rest is what he needs above all else."

"Is he in reality a white boy, such as thee has so often described to me?" asked the young Indian. "And will he tarry with us, to be unto me a companion and to thee another son?"

"Truly he is a white lad of about thy own age, and that he will tarry with us is beyond question, for from this place there is but slight chance of escape. For this night I shall leave him in thy charge, while I return to mother, who is doubtless impatient to learn of the happenings of the past hour. Watch closely for his waking, and give him both food and drink if he shall call for them."

In obedience to this command the Indian lad watched his charge all night, studying his face closely in the flickering fire-light, and speculating concerning trim. Occasionally he dropped asleep, but Todd's slightest movement found him wide-awake, for he was too greatly excited over this most wonderful happening of his life for much sleep, even though he had not been charged with a duty. So the night passed, and it was broad daylight when he roused from a slight doze to find the stranger lying with wide-open eyes curiously regarding him.

"Do you speak English?" asked Todd, as the young Indian started to his feet.

"I speak with the tongue of the Professor," answered the lad, shyly, "though I know not if that is what thee means."

"Of course it is, if what you have just said is a sample. At any rate, it is good enough English for you to tell me what place this is, and who you are. I mean, what is your name? Mine is Todd Chalmers. Is there anything to eat that you could let me have, for I'm as hungry as a bear. I suppose you know what that is?"

"Oh, yes!" answered the other, brightly. "Bears are the big rabbits, bigger even than goats or deer, that ate up the children who mocked at Elisha. And here is _piki_ for thee to eat. Also, thee is in the Valley of Peace, and thy servant is named Nanahe, though he is also sometimes called Ishmael, the son of Hagar, who fled into the wilderness."

"Are your parents Quakers?" asked Todd, greatly puzzled by the other's form of speech.

"My father was a Navajo, and my mother was of the Hopi people," answered the other, proudly.

"Oh, I see!" responded Todd, vaguely, though still wondering what sort of a lad this might be, who was so evidently an Indian, and yet spoke English without an accent, though in the manner affected by the Society of Friends. "But I say, old man, you won't mind if I call you 'Nana,' will you? Nanahe is too long for common use, and 'Nan' would sound too much like a girl's name, you know."

"Thee may call me what thee pleases, and I will answer. But has thee really seen girls and known them?" asked the other, eagerly.

"Well, I should rather say I had," laughed Todd. "Why, haven't you?"

"No, but I have wanted to so much. Tell me of them, and what they look like. Do they resemble mother?"

"Not having seen the lady, I can't say; but if she is the Professor's wife, I should think probably not. Girls, you know, are very young, and they look like--why, like nothing in the world but girls. As for describing them, you just can't, because no two of them are the same, and because there is nothing else that I know of to compare them with. But, Nana, how about that breakfast you mentioned some time since? Aren't you afraid we are letting it get cold?"

"It is ready and waiting for thee," said a pleasant voice behind them; and turning quickly, our lad beheld for the first time by daylight the white man who had treated him with so much kindness the evening before.