through a siege of inflammatory rheumatism, as he had
never been cared for before, he sounded her praises far and near, and
to all of the chance passers-by.

For her service among those who could pay she charged a very moderate
wage, but it sufficed; and, for the sake of pleasing her children, she
adopted a dress very like that worn by all the women of the frontier.
Kitty, also, had soon been clothed "like a Christian" by Mercy's
decision; but Wahneenah still carefully preserved the dainty Indian
costume Katasha had given the child; along with the sacred White Bow
and the priceless Necklace.

As for the three horses on which she and the two children had stolen
away from their enemies in the cave of refuge, Abel had long ago
decided that they were but kittle cattle, unfitted for the sober work
of life which his own oxen and old nag Dobbin performed so well. So
they were left in idleness, to graze where they pleased, and were
little used except by their owners for a rare ride afield. The
Chestnut, however, carried Wahneenah to and fro upon her nursing
trips; for, unless the case were too urgent to be left, she always
returned at nightfall to her own lodge and the nearness of her Sun
Maid.

Thus four uneventful years passed away, and it had come to the time of
the wheat harvest.

"And it's to be the biggest, grandest frolic ever was in this part of
the country," declared the settler, proudly.

Whereupon, days before, Mercy began to brew and bake, and even
Wahneenah condescended to assist in the household labor. But she did
this that she might if possible lighten that of her Sun Maid, who had
now grown to a "real good-sized girl an' just as smart as chain
lightning."

This was Abel's description. Mercy's would have been:

"Kitty's well enough. But she hates to sew her seam like she hates
poison. She'd ruther be makin' posies an' animals out my nice clean
fresh-churned butter than learn cookin'. But she's good-tempered.
Never flies out at all, like Gaspar, 'cept I lose patience with
Wahneeny. Then, look sharp!"

"Well, I tell you that out in this country a harvestin' is a big
institution!" cried Abel to Gaspar as, early on the morning of the
eventful day, they were making all things ready for the accommodation
of the people who would flock to the Smith farm to assist in the labor
and participate in the fun. "If there's some things we miss here, we
have some that can't be matched out East. Every white settler's ev