men armed with spades, and strict orders given only to use the flat
side."

I burst out laughing, for somehow everything seemed bright and happy
once more, and in the midst of my mirth a quick, eager voice exclaimed--

"What Mass' George laugh upon? Tell Pomp. Pomp want laugh too."

I told him, and as he could not appreciate the comicality of Morgan's
remark, he looked sulky and full of doubt for a few moments, but showed
his white teeth directly after.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

It did not seem long after that the four largest boats of the settlement
were loaded deep down with timbers and planks, to supplement those which
lay just under the trees by the rattlesnake clearing, and now well
seasoned and dry. Many of them had been carried here and there during
the flood, but being ready cut down when the clearing was made, they
were hunted up at the first thought of the return to build up our house,
and dragged out of spots where they had been overgrown with the
rapidly-sprung-up verdure.

Expeditions had been sent out several times toward the Indians' country,
but as no signs of the savages were seen, our confidence rapidly
increased, and some of my happiest hours were passed with Pomp, hunting
out these logs and planks, and marking the spots with a blaze from an
axe on the nearest tree.

Then a strong party came over from the settlement on the day the boats
were despatched, travelled across rapidly, knocked up a shed of the
planks and newly-sawn-up boards unloaded at our landing-place from the
boats, and I honestly believe the two happiest people there that day
among the strange party of blacks, who carried the wood along the forest
path, were Pomp and Hannibal, who, though far from strong, insisted upon
his being well enough to help.

So many willing bands were there who came over in a couple of boats
morning by morning, that with the help of the blacks camped in the rough
shed, a fortnight had not passed before the nucleus of our home was up,
sufficient for shelter, the finishing and improvements being left to
come by degrees.

I believe that the sight of our home slowly rising from the ruins did
more to give my father back his strength than anything done by the
doctor, but perhaps that is ungrateful. But be that as it may, it was a
pleasure to see him.

"Only look at the captain," Morgan said to me one morning, two days
after our friends had gone back.