All the buoyancy with which his victory over the girls had inspired him was gone.

Since that heroic feat nothing but ill-luck had crossed his path.

He was angry at his father for scolding him and driving him home, in the presence of Hayoue, for whom the boy had as great a dislike as his uncle had for him.

Why, it was worse than the threats and cuffs of the old Naua! It was not only an injustice, it was an insult! So the lad reasoned, and began to brood over vengeance.

He was going to show his father that he, the ten-year-old boy, was not to be trifled with.