the most direct way, ..."

"Wall, I reckon the most _dee_rect way air ter go straight through the
woods thar a piece, an' then jump off'n a four hundred foot cliff," the
old man chuckled titanically. "But I likewise reckon taint pra'tical;
leastwise, not onless yo' happen ter be one o' them new-fangled
aviationeers I've hearn tell on. However, here ye be, an' here yo're
goin' ter stay twill atter supper. Come, child. Sot on another plate fer
the doctor man."

"Donald MacDonald's my name, sir."

"Peers like yo'r paw stuttered when he give yo' thet name," laughed the
giant. "Mine's Jerry Webb--'Big Jerry,' they mostwise calls me
hyarerbouts." There was simple pride in the nickname evident in his
voice.

"Of course, if you really want me to stay, I'd be glad enough to do it,
Mr. Webb, although I don't like to cause any more trouble for Miss ..."

"'Rose' air the given name of my leetle gal, but folks gener'ly calls
her Smiles, fer short." The old man spoke with a noticeable tenderness
toning his big voice.

"And there's no need of explaining the reason," answered Donald in a low
aside so that the child, who was busy over the stewing kettle on its
primitive crane, might not hear. "I never expect to see another to equal
hers."

His host sent a sharp glance at him, then, softening, it travelled to
the graceful form of the girl silhouetted against the ruddy glow of the
open fire, whose reflection outlined her warm flesh with a tint of
burnished copper.

"Yes," he responded simply. "Seems like, when thet leetle gal's sweet
face lights up with a smile, hit's like a sunbeam a-breakin' through the
leaves an' playin' on a waterpool in the quiet woods."

"Oh," interrupted Rose with a cry. "I done plumb ferget ter git the milk
from Uncle Perly's, but 'twon't take more'n a minute. Kin I take Mike?"
she added, pleadingly, as she buried her slim fingers in the rough hair
on the dog's neck, while he stood sniffing acquaintance with the huge
boots and homespun pantaloons of the giant.

"Sure; that is if you're not still afraid that the neighbors' dogs will
make a meal of him," smiled Donald, and the object of the conversation,
who seemed to sense its meaning, sprang eagerly erect and placed his
forepaws on the girl's breast.

"No dawg haint a-goin' ter tetch him whilst he's with me," she responded
with quiet assurance. "Come, Mickey."

"Which air a fact," supplemented her grandfather, as girl and dog
disappeared with a ru