o look after me."

"Why, what are you doing up there?" said my father, as Sarah's nose
showed between the bars of the window of the loft.

"Keeping a sharp look-out for Indians, sir."

"That's right Sarah," cried Morgan. "And, I say, you don't think we had
better go, do you?"

"Certainly not," said Sarah, sharply. "Just as we're getting the place
and my kitchen so snug and comfortable. I should think not indeed."

"There, sir," cried Morgan, triumphantly.

"Well," said my father, "I had made up my mind to stop, at any rate as
far as I was concerned, but I wished to give you all the opportunity of
going up to the settlement."

"'Tchah, sir! I don't call that a settlement. But, begging your
pardon, captain, speaking _as_ an old soldier _to_ an old soldier,"
continued Morgan, "what you say is ridickerlus."

"Morgan!" cried my father, sternly.

"Can't help it, sir, even if you order me pack-drill, or even black-hole
and a flogging. Why, its ridickerlus for you as an officer to tell your
men to forsake you and leave you in the lurch."

"But, my good fellow--"

"Ah, I haven't done yet, captain. You've worried me and gone on till
it's mutiny in the ranks, and I refuse to obey."

"Well, George," said my father, "you hear this; what do you say?"

"I say it would be a horrid pity to go away and leave the place, father.
Oh, don't! I like it ever so! And we're so happy here, and I don't
believe the Indians will come again."

"Then you would not be afraid to stay here and take our chance? No," he
said, reverently, "place ourselves in His hands, my boy, and be
content."

"Amen to all that, sir, says I," cried Morgan, taking off his hat; and
then I saw him close his eyes, and his lips were moving as he turned
away.

"Thank you, Morgan," said my father, quietly; "and thank you too, my
boy. We will not give up our restful, beautiful home for a scare.
Perhaps if the Indians find that we wish to be at peace with them, they
may never attempt to molest us. We will stay."

Morgan gave his leg a slap, and turned round to me.

"There, Master George!" he cried. "Why, with all these fruit and
vegetables coming on, I should have 'most broke my heart, and I know our
Sarah would have broken hers."

That day was after all a nervous one, and we felt as if at any moment an
Indian might appear at the edge of the wood, followed by a body perhaps
a hundred strong. So our vigilance was not relaxed, neither that day
n