sorry we scared you," said another boy, coming up. "Was you
hurt, sissy, when you fell down?"

"Oh, no, not so very much," replied Grace, ceasing her sobbing.

"We'll see you home safe," said one of the boys. "Come on, fellers.
Lem, go get a lantern; we're nearest your house."

Lem ran obediently and in a few minutes returned with the big lantern
in his hand. He stalked on ahead, the others trooping after, the dogs
at the heels of their masters. All the way they escorted the little
girls, Ellis not ceasing to voice his indignation, nor the boys to
explain and excuse themselves, and it is needless to say that it was a
relief to all concerned when the wandering Arabs were safe within their
own dwellings.

In spite of the outcome of their adventure, the girls did not care to
repeat it and never again wanted to go beyond the cottages in their own
immediate vicinity. Yet, unpleasant as the experience was, it resulted
in more than one effort on the part of the gang of boys to make up for
their ill behavior. The very next morning after the affair, Polly, who
was the first down-stairs, saw a tall boy coming toward the cottage and
went out on the porch to meet him.

"You one of the little gals that was down the road last night?" he
asked as he came up. "One of them that was dressed up?"

Polly nodded. "Yes, I was there."

"Us boys didn't know you lived here. We wouldn't have hurt a hair of
your head if we had knowed who you was." Then he added somewhat
shamefacedly, "I fetched ye a salmon. Maybe ye ain't never see a
salmon jest out of the water. They're pretty-colored, ain't they?"
And he held up to view the glistening pink fish.

"Oh, how beautiful it is. It seems too pretty to catch, doesn't it?"
said Polly bending over to examine the fish the boy laid on the grass.

He stared at her, not quite comprehending how any one could think any
fish too pretty to be caught. "They're awful good eatin'," he went on
to say, "but they don't often come in here."

"How did you happen to get this one?" asked Polly.

"It was in my father's pound this morning, and I begged him for it.
Shall I take it into the kitchen for you?" he added hastily.

"Oh, do you mean to give it to us? How very good you are," said Polly
appreciatively.

The boy gave a short laugh. "I wasn't very good last night, was I?" he
said, and Polly understood that this was a peace-offering.

That afternoon two younger lads were seen hanging arou