was somewhat amused at the various
expressions of fear. She was not afraid of the Indians, neither was
she superstitious enough to believe that the devil had anything to do
with the arrow and the fish. But when the Colonel spoke about the
"Lord's Arrow," she gave a sudden start, while the light of
understanding dawned in her eyes. The "King's Arrow" at once came into
her mind, and she thought of him who had come to her rescue at Portland
Point. Could it be possible that he had anything to do with it? she
asked herself. Was that arrow a token that he was near? And were the
fish a sign of his care? She glanced around as if expecting to see him
emerge from the forest to explain the whole matter. Her heart beat
fast, and the rich blood tingled to her cheeks. She withdrew a few
steps lest her confusion should be observed. The King's Arrow. The
King's Arrow. It kept surging through her mind. It could be no one
else, she reasoned. She longed to speak, to tell of the discovery she
had made. But how could she explain? Would she not betray her
feelings, and thus increase her embarrassment? Would it not be better
to remain silent than to lay bare to others the thoughts which were
agitating her heart and mind?

She was aroused by her father bidding her to help prepare one of the
fish for breakfast, as Mammy would have nothing to do with it. She
obeyed with alacrity, pleased to have something to do. As she looked
upon the speckled beauty she thought how like an arrow it appeared; its
long, lithe body resembling the smooth shaft; the head and gills the
barbed point; and the spreading tail the feathered end. She wondered
if there was a meaning in all this, or was it merely her own foolish
imagination?

She thought much about this during the days that followed, although she
mentioned it to no one, not even to Old Mammy. For several nights a
number of the younger men had kept watch, with their special attention
directed to the big pine. This, however, soon proved very irksome, and
as nothing further happened, the watch was discontinued. The men
worked hard by day erecting their rude log cabins, so they could ill
afford to sit up all night. A feeling of security gradually pervaded
the camp, and all became cheerful and hopeful.

At a meeting held one night they decided upon the name "Loyal" for
their little community.

"I feel we could not choose a better one," the Colonel said. "Every
one here is an outcast