but I've been right in front driving the leading
carts nearly all the time; haven't I, Master 'Temus?"

"Yes, Sam; but are you quite sure she has gone?"

"Now, boys!" shouted the captain; "tea!"

They were soon after seated near the fire, partaking of the evening
meal. The last rays of the setting sun were dying out, and the sky was
fast changing its orange and ruddy gold for a dark violet and warm grey.
Very few words were spoken for some time, and the silence was almost
painful, broken as it was only by the sharp crack of some burning stick.
Every one glanced at the captain, who sat looking very stern, and Mrs
Bedford made a sign to the boys not to say anything, lest he should be
more annoyed.

But Aunt Georgie was accustomed to speak whenever she pleased. To her
the captain and Uncle Jack were only "the boys," and Norman, Raphael,
and Artemus "the children." So, after seeing that everybody was well
supplied with bread, damper, and cold boiled pork, she suddenly set down
the tin mug to which she was trying to accustom herself, after being
used to take her tea out of Worcester china, and exclaimed:

"I'm downright vexed about that little cow, Edward. I seemed to know by
instinct that she would give very little milk, but that it would be rich
as cream, while the butter would be yellow as gold."

"And now she's gone, and there's an end of her," said the captain
shortly.

"Such a pity! With her large soft eyes and short curly horns. Dear me,
I am vexed."

"So am I," said the captain; "and now say no more about her. It's a
misfortune, but we cannot stop to trouble ourselves about misfortunes."

"Humph!" ejaculated Aunt Georgie; and she went on sipping her tea for a
time.

"This is a very beautiful place, Edward," she said suddenly. "I was
saying so to Marian here. Why don't you build a house and stop without
going farther?"

"For several reasons, aunt dear. But don't be uneasy. I shall select
quite as beautiful a place somewhere farther on, one that you and the
girls will like better than this."

"I don't know so much about that," said the old lady. "I'm rather hard
to please.--Oh!"

"What's the matter?" cried those nearest, for the old lady's ejaculation
was startling.

"I've got it!" she cried. "Oh the artfulness of the thing, Edward, that
man."

"What man?"

"That black fellow. Depend upon it, he came here on purpose to steal
our poor little cow, and he has driven it away somewhere to