Now , these Indians look as bad as Indians can look -- so they may turn out to be angels in disguise . '' `` Very much disguised , certainly , '' I acquiesced satirically . `` They seem to me to belong to the class of a neighbour of ours down east . Her family is always in rags , because she says , ' a hole is an accident , a patch is a disgrace , ' Set camp here if you like , Kate . But I 'll not sleep a wink with such neighbours . '' I cheerfully ate my words later on . Never were appearances more deceptive than in the case of those Stoneys . There is an old saying that many a kind heart beats behind a ragged coat . The Indians had no coats for their hearts to beat behind -- nothing but shirts -- some of them had n't even shirts ! But the shirts were certainly ragged enough , and their hearts were kind . Those Indians were gentlemen . They came forward and unhitched our horses , fed , and watered them ; they pitched our tent , and built us a fire , and cut brush for our beds . Kate and I had simply nothing to do except sit on our rugs and tell them what we wanted done . They would have cooked our supper for us if we had allowed it . But , tired as we were , we drew the line at that . Their hearts were pure gold , but their hands ! No , Kate and I dragged ourselves up and cooked our own suppers . And while we ate it , those Indians fell to and cleaned all the mud off our democrat for us . To crown all -- it is almost unbelievable but it is true , I solemnly avow -- they would n't take a cent of payment for it all , urge them as we might and did . `` Well , '' said Kate , as we curled up on our brush beds that night , `` there certainly is a special Providence for unprotected females .
I 'd forgive Peter Crow for deserting us for the sake of those Indians , XXXXX he had n't stolen our lovely ham into the bargain .
To at behind if in of on so that with