Wait here: I'll go and get it." The boy, humming one of the old border songs, opened a door in the rear of the lodge, and passed into a sort of covered shed, which was used as a store-room by the old woman.
The door closed behind him.
The pedlar looked around; the two hounds were lazily pawing each other in the sun, before the door, and no sound disturbed the silence, but their low whining, as they yawned, or the faint cry of some distant bird.
The pedlar muttered a cautious "goot!" and looked warily around him.
Nothing worth stealing was visible, at least nothing small enough to carry away.
His prying eye, however, detected an old chest in the corner, half covered with deer and other skins, and the key of this chest was in the lock.
The pedlar rose cautiously, and listened.
The young man was evidently preparing the venison steaks from the noise he made, an occupation which he accompanied with the low, Indian humming.
The pedlar went on the points of his toes to the chest, carefully turned the key, and opened it.

With a quick hand he turned over its contents, looking round cautiously.
After some search, he drew forth a silver spoon, and what seemed to be a necklace of red beads, the two ends of which were brought together by a circular gold plate.

Just as the pedlar thrust these objects into his capacious breast-pocket, the door opened, and Verty entered.
But the boy did not observe him--he quickly and cautiously closed the chest, and began examining one of the skins on the lid.
Verty looked up from the steaks in his hand, observed the occupation of the pedlar, and began to laugh, and talk of his hunting.
The pedlar drew a long breath, returned to his pack, and sat down.
As he did so, the old Indian woman came in, and the boy ran to her, and kissed her hand, and placed it on his head.

This was Indian fashion.
"Oh, _ma mere_!" he cried, "I've seen Redbud, and had such a fine time, and I'm so happy! I'm hungry, too; and so is this honest fellow with the pack.

There go the steaks!" And Verty threw them on the gridiron, and burst out laughing.
In a quarter of an hour they were placed on the rude table, and the three persons sat down--Verty laughing, the old woman smiling at him, the pedlar sullen and omnivorous.
After devouring everything on the table, the worthy took his departure with his pack upon his shoulders.
"I don't like that man, but let him go," said Verty.