ll. I
was longing to get back to my comfortable home. Come along. I suppose
we may have a fresh visit at any time."

The meeting broke up, and my father led me back to our quarters.

"I ought not to have let you go," he said. "The risk was too great, but
I was influenced by the general opinion. Ah!" he continued, as he saw
Hannibal standing by our rough tent, "why, my good fellow, you are
wounded."

He laid his hand upon the black's arm, and said something in a low
voice, but I could not catch his words. I saw Hannibal's eyes brighten,
though, and a look of pleasure in his face as he suffered himself to be
led to the temporary hospital; and I followed, to find our Sarah sitting
up and ready to welcome me with a few sharp snappish words, after her
fashion. I have often laughed since at the way in which she showed her
affection for me; for that she was fond of me she often proved.

"You've come back then?" she said, as I seated myself upon a box.

"Yes; and I'm as bad as Pomp now," I replied.

"Oh, I don't doubt that a bit, Master George. What new mischief has he
been at now?"

"Getting himself taken by the Indians, and nearly killed."

"And you have too?"

"Not taken, but nearly killed."

"Well, it serves you both right," she cried, with her lips working. "It
was bad enough to come to this terrible place without you two boys going
and running into all kinds of risks, and getting yourselves nearly
killed. I don't know what the captain has been about, I'm sure."

"About here," I said, good-humouredly.

"But tell me at once, sir. What do you mean about being as bad as that
impudent black boy?"

"Oh, only that I'm dreffle hungry," I said, laughing.

"Hungry? Then why didn't you have some food as soon as you got back?"

"Because I had to go and tell them my news; and then I wanted to see how
you were. How is your wound?"

"Oh, it don't matter about me a bit. I'm in hospital, and being
attended to, so of course my husband can go on pleasure-trips, and leave
his poor wife to die if so inclined."

"Curious sort of pleasure-trip, Sarah," I said. "I say, you should see
how Morgan can fight."

"Fight? Did he have to fight?"

"Yes;" and I told her what he had done.

"Oh, what a foolish, foolish man! How could he go leading you into
danger like that?"

"He didn't. I led him."

"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself, Master George. But tell me;
why did you go back home?"

"To see wh