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horses. She was speechless as she stared around her.
    â€œJohn Shaw that way.” Uncle Ned pointed down the long main road. “Take Papoose to house. White man must not see Indian.”
    He halted in front of an immense white house with a huge yard covered with green grass, flowers, and shrubs, and a small summerhouse at one side. A white picket fence enclosed the yard and a hitching post with a stepping-stone was at the gate. Across the road was an old church with a cemetery.
    Mandie stood in frozen awe at the monstrous size of the house and the surrounding yard and gardens. So this was Uncle John’s mansion. It must have twenty rooms, at least. She at once became nervous and excited at the prospect of meeting her father’s brother. What if he didn’t like her? What if she had to go back to the Brysons? But then, she would not think of such things, because she would not go back to the Brysons under any circumstances. She would go live with Uncle Ned’s tribe if her uncle rejected her.
    â€œGo, Papoose,” Uncle Ned urged her. “I come later. Love.”
    â€œAnd love to you, Uncle Ned and Morning Star.” She turned to hug the old Indian and the squaw, and then quickly opened the gate and ran up the steps to the front porch. She lifted a shaking hand to knock on the front door.
    She could not hear a sound inside. No one seemed to be at home. Her heart sank. She turned to look at the Indians who were half hidden by the shrubbery. Then she heard footsteps coming closer to the door. She looked up to see a big, tall man, barefooted and in workclothes, standing before her.
    â€œAre you John Shaw?” she asked nervously.
    â€œNo, ma’am. He’s not home.” The man scratched his gray head as he stared at her.
    â€œWhen will he be back? You see, I’m his niece, Amanda Shaw,” she explained.
    â€œWell, come in, miss.” The man held the door open and Mandie turned to catch a glimpse of Uncle Ned’s smiling face.
    She entered a wide hallway and followed the man to a room on the right, which she decided must be the company parlor judging from the rich furnishings. She sat down on the edge of a soft armchair and deposited her bag on the floor by her side. Snowball escaped from her arms and went running off into the other part of the house.
    â€œWhen will Uncle John be back?” she asked.
    â€œOh, he’s gone to Europe. He’s been gone since March. I’m the caretaker, Jason Bond.” He was still standing as he explained.
    â€œOh, goodness, to Europe!” She was dismayed to have come all this way and then not find her uncle at home. “What will I do?”
    â€œWhere’re you from, miss?”
    â€œI lived with my daddy, Jim Shaw, and my mother over at Charley Gap in Swain County until my daddy died in April and my mother got married again. Then they sent me away to live with some awful people at Almond Station and I ran away.” She told the man the truth, knowing her uncle would have to know. “I—I don’t have anywhere to live.”
    â€œOh, well, plenty of room here. He oughta be back any day now. Come on, I’ll find you a room.” He picked up her bag and led the way up a long flight of stairs to the second floor, and then down a long hall and opened the door to a room furnished with blue and gold. Mandie stared in delight. Never had she seen such an elegant room.
    â€œHow about this one?” Jason Bond was asking as she stood there.
    â€œOh, it’s beautiful! It’s wonderful!” She stood in the middle of the room, gazing about.
    â€œI’ll get Liza to bring you some fresh water for your pitcher over there, and some breakfast if you ain’t et yet.”
    â€œOh, I am hungry,” she said. “In fact, I’m starving!” She laughed.
    â€œWell, we’ll fix that.” Jason Bond went out the door and she removed her wrinkled bonnet, tossed it on the bed and