f the Indian would be sure to detect it,
and yet he was surprised at his own coolness and mastery of himself;
and he accomplished the feat, returning with the black old pot filled
to the brim.

He had got within a few feet of the tree, when, in range of the
opening, he saw a figure apparently watching him. Charlie thought his
hour had come; that it was a savage ready with his scalping-knife,
and had given up all for lost, when the dark form moved from out the
shadow towards him, and to his consternation he saw that it was Bub,
who trudged forward, saying in a loud whisper,--

"Has oo dot any water?"

Charlie, to save further noise, chose the bold alternative of letting
him drink on the spot; and retaining his prostrate condition, quickly
put the pot to Bub's lips, and the child swallowed great draughts with
satisfied gutturals that seemed to Charlie's apprehensive ear like the
reports of pocket pistols. He let him drink his fill, however, then,
pulling him down by his chubby legs, thrust him swiftly, but softly,
through the aperture, following as fast as he could, and keeping
perfectly still for a full hour before he dared venture forth again
for the coffee-pot, which he was obliged to leave behind.

The vigilance of their father in the defence of the cabin not only
kept the children in the tree longer than Charlie bargained for when
he turned in, on that memorable afternoon, to play Crusoe, but also
put their lives in jeopardy from their father's bullets. For, as we
have said before, the tree being a large one, and conveniently near
the cabin, the savages would creep up behind it to shoot from, which
would be sure to bring a dangerous response; and Charlie was obliged
to know more than once that the tree was perforated by balls from his
father's rifle. At such times the youngsters kept as close to the
ground as possible.

When the Indians set fire to the roof of the cabin, Charlie was almost
wild with excitement, fearing that his parents would now be burned to
death. Nor was his anxiety lessened when he saw his father ascend the
roof to extinguish the flames, thus exposing himself to the deadly aim
of the foe.

Captain Manly's attack, however, he did not understand; for the
soldiers did not pass near the tree, and the confusion and
clamor, the horrid yells that rent the air, and the tramp of the
contending parties in the dim twilight, seemed like the chaos of
a whirlwind,--the fight was so sudden and so soon ov