im in
mounting his horse; and Alf stood there actually trembling at the
narrowness of his escape. I know that we should have been burned up had
he been half so badly frightened while we were in the school-house.

The nights were shortened by the season's approach to the first of May.
It seemed a long time since the twilight had glimmered on the leaves,
and it was past midnight when we reached home. Old Lim had put up his
horse and was standing at the draw-bars, waiting for us.

"For a smart man," said he, "I reckon the General's got about as little
sense as any human now alive. By jings, he's a crank; that's what's the
matter with him; and the first thing he knows people will be keepin' out
of his way."

A light flashed from the passage and we saw Guinea and her mother
standing on the log step, gazing toward us.

"It's all right!" the old man cried. "Go on to bed, and don't be
standing around this time of night."

Alf and I, leaving the old man at the bars, went to the house. "Oh, I'm
so glad you've all got back," said Mrs. Jucklin, striving to be calm,
but whimpering. "Are you sure that you are all safe and sound?"

Guinea began to laugh. "Of course, they are, mother, don't you see?"

"But what's your father still standin' out yonder for? I jest know he's
crippled. Limuel, are you hurt?" she cried.

"Yes, I am hurt, and by a man that prefers to be a crank. Said that he
wouldn't care anything about 'em even if it was daylight."

"Oh, but you are not shot, are you?" his wife exclaimed, starting toward
him.

"Go in now, Susan, and don't come foolin' with me. Who said I was shot?
Go on to bed, everybody, and I'll come when I git ready."

"But you must be hungry, Limuel?"

"Hungry, the devil--excuse me, ma'm. I'll eat a snack mebby between now
and mornin'."

"It's no use to talk to him," she said, with a sigh, and, turning to me,
she added: "You and Alf must be nearly starved. We've kept the coffee
warm. Guinea, go and pour it out for 'em."

"Will you tell me all about the fight?" the girl asked when we entered
the dining-room. "I like to hear about such things."

I strove to make light of it, but, seeing that this would not satisfy
her, I told of the burning of the house and of the capture of the Aimes
brothers, colored our danger in the house, to see her lips whiten and
her eyes stare; pictured myself as I must have looked when I seized the
dog, to choke him, and to throw him far into the woods--told her