of a pet cub," replied the woodman; "just a small specimen of my
fetching up: trees squirrels like a dog--got the nose of a hound--can
track a raccoon in the dark--and the most meddlesome imp about fire-arms
you ever see. Here t' other day got my rifle and shot away half the hair
from his sister's head; but I reckon I skinned him for it! You can
answer for that, Marcus, you shaver, eh?"

"I expect you did," answered the boy pertly, "but I don't mind a
whipping when I've got room to dodge."

"Do you know, Mr. Butler, how I come to call that boy Marcus?" said
Adair.

"It is one of your family names, perhaps."

"Not a bit. There's nare another boy nor man in this whole country round
has such a name--nor woman, neither. It's a totally oncommon name. I
called him after that there Frenchman that's come out here to help
General Washington--Marcus Lafayette; and I think it sounds mighty
well."

Butler laughed, as he replied, "That was a soldierly thought of yours. I
think you must call your next Baron, after our old Prussian friend De
Kalb."

"Do you hear that, wife?" exclaimed Wat. "Keep that in your head, if it
will hold there a twelvemonth. No occasion to wait longer, haw! haw!
haw!"

"Wat talks like a natural born fool," retorted the wife. "We have no
friends nor enemies on any side. The boy was called Marcus because Watty
was headstrong, and not because we cared any more for one general nor
another. I dare say there is faults enough on both sides, if the truth
was told; and I can't see what people in the woods have to do with all
this jarring about liberty and such nonsense."

"Hold your tongue!" said Wat. "Boil your kettle, and give us none of
your tinkling brass, as the Bible calls it. You see, Horse Shoe, there's
such ridings and burnings, and shooting and murder about here, that
these women are scared out of the little wits God has given them; and
upon that account we are obliged sometimes to play a little double, just
to keep out of harm's way. But I am sure I wish no ill to the
Continental army."

"If we thought you did, Wat," replied Robinson, "we would have slept on
the hill to-night, rather than set foot across the sill of your door.
Howsever, let's say nothing about that; I told Mr. Butler that you would
give us the best you had, and so you will. I have known Wat Adair, Mr.
Butler, a good many years. We used to call him Wat with the double hand.
Show us your fist here, Wat. Look at that, sir! it's as