bed; it's
easier there."

Charlie was threatened with brain fever, as his bloodshot eyes,
flushed face, and throbbing temples revealed. The strain had been too
great for him, and he soon seemed to be unconscious of what was
passing around him, and moaned and tossed incessantly. Chary of his
scanty store of provisions, not knowing how long they might be shut up
in the cabin, he had eaten sparingly himself, but fed Bub generously,
not only from love to his little brother, but because it would keep
him the more quiet. The night-watching had worn on him terribly.

Bub had small comprehension of Charlie's condition; and finding, after
a while, that Charlie did not talk with him, he took the post of
sentinel, and did himself great credit. This seemed a long period to
the little fellow, and after going the rounds of the port-hole, and
seeing nothing to alarm him, he set about amusing himself. The skin
bag, containing the ammunition, caught his eye; so, getting the
fire-shovel, he managed to dislodge it from the peg on which it hung,
and down it plumped upon the floor. Bub looked towards Charlie at
this, to see what he would say, but, as he did not seem to notice,
lugged the bag to the hearth, and commenced strewing the powder upon
the fire. This was highly satisfactory, and one little puff would go
up, sending out the white ashes, to be succeeded by another, as fast
as the fat fist of the little mischief-maker could work. Then he began
to strew the powder out from the hearth upon the floor; and he clapped
his hands in glee, as he saw the fire run along the trains that he had
laid. Very careless was he in his pyrotechnic contrivances, and might
have found himself involved in a grand explosion, had he not bethought
himself that, if powder was good to burn, it was also good to eat.
Now, it chanced that Charlie, in his investigations in the cupboard,
had come across a neglected jug, that contained molasses; and as
molasses was much prized by Bub, he had kept it for that little boy's
sole use, dealing it out to him, a little at a time, at each meal. So,
bringing out the jug and a saucer, Bub filled the latter with
molasses, into which he stirred the powder, and commenced eating the
sweet mixture. He knew he had been into mischief that would displease
his brother; so, denying himself the first taste, taking the saucer
and spoon in his hand, he trudged to the bedside, and said,--

"Bub made Charlie some tandy. Bub good boy."

Bu