and put
it into the hole, and a good lot of food there for you to eat, so that
you wouldn't have to come out for anything; and, Bub, if I should die,
and father and mother should come and take you away, I want you to
tell them that I put the water and the food there; won't you?"

"Yes," said Bub; "and I'll let them hide in our tree; mayn't I,
Charlie?"

"Yes," answered Charlie; "you must tell them all you can remember;
tell them that I tried to be a good boy; tell mother,"--speaking very
softly,--"that every night we said 'Now I lay me;' and don't you never
forget to say, 'Now I lay me;' will you, Bub?"

"No, I won't," said Bub; "tos, if I'm dood, like you and mother, and
say, 'Now I lay me' every night, when I die Dod will send a big angel
down to take me up to heaven; won't he, Charlie?"

"Yes," said Charlie. "Now I'll go get the water;" and, walking with
unsteady step to the well, he returned with a pail of water, and,
filling the coffee-pot, descended, feebly, to the cellar, and placed
it in the hole which he had dug; then, carrying most of the provisions
that they had, deposited them there also, and going up stairs again,
he started for the bed, but suddenly stopped, and putting his hand
over his eyes, said,--

"O, where is it? I can't see, I'm so dizzy," and fell by the side of
it, on the hard floor. Bub looked on in wonder, scarcely comprehending
the meaning of it, saying,--

"Did the cellar hurt you, Charlie?" But there was no answer. In a few
moments after, Charlie opened his eyes, and said,--

"Bub, I'm dreadful sick; if the Indians should come,--and you must
watch for them, Bub, else they might come when you wasn't looking,--"

Then he relapsed into silence.

"Did you 'peak, Charlie?" said Bub, wondering that he did not finish
the sentence. The dear little voice seemed to recall his wandering
thoughts, and, taking up what he was saying where he had left off,
continued,--

"If the Indians should come, Bub, remember and pull the strings;
perhaps that will frighten them off, as it did before. If it doesn't,
go right into the hole in the cellar, as I told you."

"I fraid to go into the cellar 'out you."

"But you must," answered Charlie, "or the Indians will kill you. But
you won't feel afraid if you pray God to take care of you."

"Is Dod stronger than dark?" asked Bub.

"Yes," said Charlie, "he made the dark; he made you, and everything;
but," he added, "I feel better; I guess I'll get on the