look of anxiety.

There was evidently a conflict in the widow's breast, but it quickly
ceased.

"Yes, my boy," she said in her own low, quiet voice, "an' God go with
ye. I knew the time must come soon, an' I thank Him that your first
visit to the Red-skins will be on an errand o' peace. `Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.'"

Dick grasped his mother's hand and pressed it to his cheek in silence.
At the same moment Crusoe, seeing that the deeper feelings of his master
were touched, and deeming it his duty to sympathise, rose up and thrust
his nose against him.

"Ah! pup," cried the young man hastily, "you must go too. Of course
Crusoe goes, Joe Blunt?"

"Hum! I don't know that. There's no dependin' on a dog to keep his
tongue quiet in times o' danger."

"Believe me," exclaimed Dick, flashing with enthusiasm, "Crusoe's more
trustworthy than I am myself. If ye can trust the master yer safe to
trust the pup."

"Well, lad, ye may be right. We'll take him."

"Thanks, Joe. And who else goes with us?"

"I've bin castin' that in my mind for some time, an' I've fixed to take
Henri. He's not the safest man in the valley, but he's the truest,
that's a fact. And now, younker, get yer horse an' rifle ready, and
come to the block-house at daybreak to-morrow. Good luck to ye,
mistress, till we meet agin."

Joe Blunt rose, and taking up his rifle,--without which he scarcely ever
moved a foot from his own door,--left the cottage with rapid strides.

"My son," said Mrs Varley, kissing Dick's cheek as he resumed his seat,
"put this in the little pocket I made for it in your hunting shirt."

She handed him a small pocket Bible.

"Dear mother," he said, as he placed the book carefully within the
breast of his coat, "the Red-skin that takes that from me must take my
scalp first. But don't fear for me. You've often said the Lord would
protect me. So He will, mother, for sure it's an errand o' peace!"

"Ay, that's it, that's it," murmured the widow in a half-soliloquy.

Dick Varley spent that night in converse with his mother, and next
morning at daybreak he was at the place of meeting mounted on his sturdy
little horse, with the "silver rifle" on his shoulder, and Crusoe by his
side.

"That's right, lad, that's right. Nothin' like keepin' yer time," said
Joe, as he led out a pack-horse from the gate of the block-house, while
his own charger was held ready saddled by a m