he remarked as he covered the woman and the child.

The wounded warrior and the old men were not to be found. They had
sneaked away into the bush. Jack and Solomon looked about and the
latter called but got no answer.

"They're skeered cl'ar down to the toe nails," said Solomon. "They
couldn't stan' it here. A lightnin' thrower is a few too many. They'd
ruther be nigh a rattlesnake."

The scouts had no sleep that night. They sat down by the trail side
leaning against a log and lighted their pipes.

"You 'member Bill Scott?" Solomon whispered.

"Yes. We spent a night in his house."

"He were a mean cuss. Sold rum to the Injuns. I allus tol' him it
were wrong but--my God A'mighty!--I never 'spected that the fire in the
water were a goin' to burn him up sometime. No, sir--I never dreamed
he were a-goin' to be punished so--never."

They lay back against the log with their one blanket spread and spent
the night in a kind of half sleep. Every little sound was "like a kick
in the ribs," as Solomon put it, and drove them "into the look and
listen business." The woman was often crying out or the cow and horses
getting up to feed.

"My son, go to sleep," said Solomon. "I tell ye there ain't no danger
now--not a bit. I don't know much but I know Injuns---plenty."

In spite of his knowledge even Solomon himself could not sleep. A
little before daylight they arose and began to stir about.

"I was badly burnt by that fire," Jack whispered.

"Inside!" Solomon answered. "So was I. My soul were a-sweatin' all
night."

The morning was chilly. They gathered birch bark and dry pine and soon
had a fire going. Solomon stole over to the thicket where the woman
and child were lying and returned in a moment.

"They're sound asleep," he said in a low tone. "We'll let 'em alone."

He began to make tea and got out the last of their bread and dried meat
and bacon. He was frying the latter when he said:

"That 'ere is a mighty likely womern."

He turned the bacon with his fork and added:

"Turrible purty when she were young. Allus hated the rum business."

Jack went out on the wild meadow and brought in the cow and milked her,
filling a basin and a quart bottle.

Solomon went to the thicket and called:

"Mis' Scott!"

The woman answered.

"Here's a tow'l an' a leetle jug o' soap, Mis' Scott. Ye kin take the
boy to the crick an' git washed an' then come to the fire an' eat yer
breakfust."

The boy