the long summer twilight had deepened into the shades of
night, reminding him that it was high time he should be looking after
the comfort of his captive guest. While the blowing and roaring had been
going on from the stump, the young Indian had remained seated on the
cabin door-sill, tranquilly smoking his pipe, the odorous contents of
which showed forth at long and regular intervals in a dull-red glow from
the dusky shadow of the cabin-shed. Taking him in, Burl hospitably
yielded up to his guest his own bed--the bear-skin bed he was so proud
of and loved so much to sleep on--spreading for himself instead a
buffalo-rug on the floor. In a little while the spirit of sleep had
descended on every weary soul in the fort--all save the wakeful Grumbo,
who, crouched on his bear-skin out there under the shed, maintained, as
was his habit, vigilant watch through the livelong night.

Now that his great adventure had been brought to a happy end, the
Fighting Nigger must once more doff his bear-skin cap--the cap of
war--and don, instead, his coon-skin cap--the cap of peace; hang his
battle-ax up on the wall, and lay his hand to the plow; muzzle his
war-dog, and bridle his plow-horse; and leave the war-path in the forest
to tread the peace-path in the field.

Accordingly, early next morning, having duly discharged his office as
host for the time being, and left his guest to a pipe of tobacco and
quiet meditation, Burl was about betaking himself to his labors in the
field, when his little master came running out to his cabin with word
that Miss Jemima wished to speak with him before he left the fort.
Respectfully uncapping himself even before reaching her presence, the
faithful fellow came, and showing the left shoulder and bushy head of
him from round the edge of the door and looking side-long into the room
where his mistress was sitting, said in answer to her summons, "Yes
'um."

"I have sent for you, Burl," began Mrs. Reynolds with kindly seriousness
of tone and manner, "to tell you how thankful I am for the good and
brave part you have done by me and my poor fatherless boy, and to reward
you in the best way I can." Here she paused.

"Yes 'um," said Burl, not knowing what else to say, and looking hard at
Grumbo, who, as if he had been summoned too, had followed his master,
and now, seated on his haunches in the door-way, was listening with
grave attention to what was going on--hoping, no doubt, that severe
measures were at la