have brought them, Eli would never have
ventured to the verge of murder to recover it. Even now, with all his
regrets, he thanked God from the bottom of his heart that he had not
killed Indian Jake and stained his hands with blood.

"'Twere the mercy of God sent the bullet abroad," said he reverently.
"Indian Jake's a thief and he deserves to be killed, but if I'd killed
he I'd never rested an easy hour again while I lives. But I might o'
clipped his trigger hand, whatever," he thought with regret. "I can
clip off the head of a pa'tridge every time, and I might have clipped
his hand, and got the skin and took he back for Doctor Joe to fix up."

Three days later Eli pulled his boat wearily into The Jug. The boys
had returned, and with Thomas they met him on the jetty.

"Did you find Injun Jake?" Thomas asked anxiously.

"Aye," said Eli, "he were there."

Eli volunteered no further details for a moment. Then he added:

"I didn't kill he, thank the Lord, but he's got the silver. He said he
had un, and he took my ca'tridges away from me."

"Said he had un? Now, that's strange--wonderful strange. Come in, Eli,
supper's ready," Thomas invited, manifestly relieved that Eli had not
succeeded in accomplishing his rash purpose. "You'll bide the night
with us, and while you eats tell us about un, and the lads'll tell
what were happenin' to they."

Margaret was setting the table. She greeted Eli cordially, and
arranged a plate for him while he washed at the basin behind the
stove.

"Come," invited Thomas, "set in. We've got a wonderful treat."

"What be that, now?" asked Eli as Margaret placed a dish of steaming,
mealy boiled potatoes upon the table.

"Potaters," Thomas announced grandly. "Doctor Joe brings un on the
mail boat from where he's been, and onions too. Margaret, peel some
onions and set un on for Eli. They's fine just as they is without
cookin'."

The onions came, and when thanks had been offered Eli tasted his
first potato.

"They is fine, now! Wonderful fine eatin'," he declared.

"Try an onion, now. They's fine, too," Thomas urged.

Eli took an onion.

"She has a strange smell," he observed before biting into it.

Eli took a liberal mouthful of the onion. He began to chew it. A
strained look spread over his face. Tears filled his eyes. But Eli was
brave, and he never flinched.

"'Tis fine, I like un wonderful fine," Eli volunteered presently,
adding, "if she didn't burn so bad."

"Take just