m as if daring them to capture him.

Both the girls well knew that there were larger and more dangerous
animals in the forests. There were bears prowling somewhere in those dim
shadowy woods, eating the young buds and leaves, and capturing such
defenseless birds and rabbits as they could. Once or twice they heard
some heavy creature crashing through the underbrush, and looked at each
other with startled eyes; but no harm came near them, and by the middle
of the afternoon they reached the first house of the settlement, and had
told their errand.

"Every man in the settlement is on his way to Machias this very hour,"
declared the friendly woman who had welcomed the girls with amazed
admiration; and, when they told of the scarcity of powder and shot in
Machias, had said that the men of Chandler's River settlement had
believed Machias well supplied with powder, and had taken but a small
quantity with them.

"One of our fishermen brought news of the British gunboat, and our men
started at once. They went by the lower trail," explained the woman, as
she stirred the hot porridge she was cooking for the girls' supper.

"'Tis well your parents had courage to let you come, and you must rest,
and get early to bed. I will go to the powder-house and bring back as
much as you can carry, and I will go with you a part of the way
to-morrow," she added, and Rebecca and Danna thanked her gratefully.
After they had eaten their porridge they were quite ready to bathe
their tired feet in the hot water their hostess had ready, and go to
bed, although the sun was yet an hour above the horizon.

While the girls slept Mrs. Getchell hurried to the other houses of the
settlement, telling the story of the two courageous girls who had come
through the forest on their patriotic errand.

"'Tis hardly to be believed," she declared. "These little maids are
brave as soldiers, and they will carry the powder and shot back in good
time to be of use. General Washington shall hear of them, and the
Province of Maine will not forget their names."

The women and children listened eagerly, and all were anxious for a
sight of the little maids who had shown such courage and hardihood. But
Mrs. Getchell declared that they must not be disturbed, or they would
not be equal to the return journey on the next day.

"But you can all come in the morning and see them start for Machias,"
she said, and with the powder and shot, ten pounds of each, safely
packed, she