his own little coon-skin cap all brave with the
pride of the war-bird--there sat our little white hero, that self-same
runaway Bushie, whose froward legs had so well-nigh carried him to
death's door, and on whose account a whole settlement had been unsettled
from dinner-time yesterday till supper-time to-day. But what a shout
that was which at this sight went pealing up from the fort to the sky,
went pealing down from the fort to the mill, which, just at this moment
received the reserved water upon its wheel, and all on a sudden,
clearing its wooden throat with a squeak, ceased droning, "What a pity!
what a pity!" and fell to singing, in double-quick time, "What a
naughty! what a naughty! what a naughty!" Some of the hunters ran in to
bear the poor mother the joyful tidings, some ran out to meet and
welcome the returning conqueror, while others opened the gate to its
utmost width to let the conqueror in. On they came, vanquished and
victor; Bushie grinning at them from over the head of the Fighting
Nigger; the Fighting Nigger grinning at them from over the head of the
Indian; and the Indian, with dignified composure, looking the whole
white settlement full in the face. Without a halt, right through the
gate-way they drove, "like a wagon and team with a dog behind," to use
the conqueror's own expressive words; nor could words have expressed
more, had they told of the rumble of chariot-wheels. Hardly were they
over the sill when, to bring the triumph to a climax, here, followed by
all the women, and children, and dogs, screaming, shouting, barking,
laughing, crying--those gladder who cried than those who laughed, those
gladder who barked than those who shouted--came running Miss Jemimy, to
meet them.

Turning his back square on his mistress, the conqueror let the rescued
treasure tumble bodily from his shoulders into the eager arms, upon the
yearning bosom. With incoherent expressions of endearment to her darling
boy, of thanks to their brave and faithful servant, and of praise to the
merciful Father of all, the widowed mother clasped the lost and found to
her heart, being in turn all but choked and smothered by the hugs and
kisses of the delighted Bushie. Then, hand in hand, they hastened to
their cabin and shut the door behind them with a timbersome bang, which
said as plainly as a puncheon-door, with oaken hinges and hickory latch,
could say any thing, "Let us have the first hour of recovered happiness
to ourselves." I