Q: CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED.

Whether or not Okematan was as thorough a rascal as Fergus McKay thought him will be best shown by harking back, and setting down a little of what was said by some of the Cree braves at the time that Fergus and Dan were eavesdropping.

Standing in a dignified attitude worthy of an ancient Roman, with his blanket thrown toga-fashion over one shoulder, one of the braves looked round on the warrior band with a dark scowl before he began. His comrades were evidently impressed by his looks. Whether owing to a freak of fancy, a spice of eccentricity, or simple vanity, we know not, but this brave had, among other ornamental touches to his visage, painted his nose bright red. The effect on his brother braves was solemnising. It was not so impressive to his white observers, as it suggested to them the civilised toper.

"The great white chief," began Rednose, with a slow deliberation that was meant to convey a settled and unalterable conviction, "is a fool!"

"Waugh!" exclaimed the audience with emphasis, for the language was strong, and uttered with intense vigour, and that quite accorded with their tastes, so they agreed with the sentiment without regard to its signification. This species of rhetoric, and its effects, are sometimes observed in connection with civilised gatherings.

The great white chief thus irreverently referred to, we regret to say, was Lord Selkirk.

"The great white chief," continued Rednose, availing himself of the force of emphatic repetition, "is a fool! He is a child! He knows nothing! He comes across the great salt lake from the rising sun, with the air and aspect of an owl, thinking to teach us--the great Cree nation--wisdom!"

1. Lord Selkirk.
2. no
3. Rednose
4. teach
5. the great Cree nation
6. wisdom!
7. as a fool, a child
8. yes
9. the language was strong, and uttered with intense vigour
10. Fergus and Dan
11. some of the Cree braves
12. a blanket
13. toga-fashion over one shoulder
14. yes
15. unknown
16. his nose was painted bright red.
17. unknown
18. it was solemnising.
19. no
20. It was not so impressive

Numbered questions:
1. Who was the great white chief?
2. Was he smart?
3. Who said so?
4. What was the great white chief trying to do?
5. Teach who?
6. What was he trying to teach?
7. How did Rednose describe him?
8. Did the audience agree?
9. Why?
10. Who was eavesdropping?
11. Who were they eavesdropping on?
12. What was the brave wearing?
13. How?
14. Were his friends impressed?
15. Were they also in blankets?
16. What was strange about him?
17. Why?
18. How did the other braves feel about it?
19. Did others feel the same?
20. What did they think?

Q: When Mr. Brown entered the classroom that Friday morning, he stopped at the blackboard. For there, on the blackboard, were words in huge red letters: BROWN IS STUPID! Mr. Brown thought for a moment. This could only have been the work of one of the four boys who had been kept in after school the day before. Mr. Brown turned the blackboard around so that the words could not be seen. Half an hour later,Mr. Brown wrote four names on the board: Gerald, Alex, Michael and Laurie. Then he said, "I want these four to stay in the classroom. The rest of you may go to the playground." The four boys came to the blackboard. "One of you has written a most impolite remark on the blackboard," he stared at them and _ , "which one of you did it?" The four boys gathered closer together, afraid of what was to come. "Was it you, Gerald?" Gerald shook his head. "No, it was not me, Sir," he gave the teacher a most sincere look in his wide eyes. "What do you have to say, Alex?" "I don't know anything about it, Sir," said Alex, and his ears turned red. Michael had a bright idea. "Perhaps someone broke in during the night," he said. "And when he saw the lovely red chalk lying there, he wrote something on the blackboard." "Is that the best you can think so, Michael?" asked the teacher. "I only thought ..." "And what about you, Laurie?" Laurie said in a rather low voice, "I didn't do it, Sir. I don't even know what it says on the blackboard." "You really don't know what's written there?" Mr. Brown asked. "And I don't think dear Gerald knows either." "No, Sir. No idea." "Michael, Alex, can either of you tell me what it says on the blackboard?" "No, Sir!" the two boys answered together. Brown walked forward and his fingers seized a schoolboy. He said in his kindest and softest voice to the other three boys, "Very well. I only punish the one who has been telling lies, and you three may go to the playground!"

1. BROWN IS STUPID!
2. it could have been one of the four boys who had been kept in after school the day before
3. Perhaps someone broke in during the night

Numbered questions:
1. What was written on the blackboard?
2. Why did brown suspect the four boys?
3. How did Michael suggest the writing got on there?

Q: Washington (CNN) -- A late evening meeting between President Barack Obama and the leaders of the House and Senate failed to reach agreement Wednesday on a spending plan to avert a government shutdown, but all the participants said progress was made and talks would continue.

If there is no deal by midnight Friday, when the current spending authorization measure expires, parts of the government will close down.

Obama called the 90-minute talks with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, "constructive" and he said they narrowed and clarified the outstanding issues.

"I remain confident that if we're serious about getting something done, we should be able to complete a deal and get it passed and avert a shutdown," Obama said in brief remarks to reporters. "But it's going to require a sufficient sense of urgency from all parties involved" to prevent a shutdown that "could have real effects on everyday Americans."

Both Reid and Boehner told reporters in their own brief comments that the meeting made progress in narrowing their differences, and that their staffs would work through the night to try to reach further consensus.

"I have confidence we can get this done," said Reid, who criticized Boehner and Republicans earlier in the day for intransigence. "We're not there yet."

Boehner, standing next to Reid, said "we do have some honest differences," and he emphasized there was no agreement on either a specific figure for spending cuts for the rest of the current fiscal year or on policy issues that the Republicans want included in the measure, such as specifically prohibiting funding for abortions.

1. failed to reach agreement

Numbered questions:
1. Was an agreement reached?