ere full, and between them both he found it
difficult to reply. He was painfully hungry from his long fast and the
thrilling experiences of the day, and his brain was greatly excited.

"I am going," said he, answering the last question first, perhaps
because it was nearest at hand, "to the fort after help."

"After help!" cried the wife, stopping short in the act of
transferring a potato from the end of her fork to Tom's plate, holding
it aloft unconsciously. "Ain't any trouble down your way with the
Injuns--is there?"

"No, not exactly," said Tom.

And the good woman, relieved, remembered the potato, and deposited it
as she had designed, then was proceeding to place another slice of
pork beside it, just as Tom added,--

"But I saw lots of them this morning not more than twelve miles from
here, and they looked fierce enough in their war-paint, and with the
bloody scalps dangling from their bodies."

"Goodness gracious!" exclaimed the good lady; and, again forgetting
herself, she paused with the pork, letting the fat drip upon the snowy
cloth. "I told you, husband, they'd be down upon us yet, and we more'n
three miles from any neighbor."

And as Tom commenced his recital of the occurrences of the morning,
she sat down in her chair with the slice of meat still in its elevated
position, and the gravy dripping into her lap, while the husband
ceased eating, and listened with open-mouthed interest.

Tom eyed the pork longingly as he continued his narration, and, seeing
no prospect of getting it, abruptly said,--

"I hadn't tasted a bit of food till I came here since five o'clock
this morning, and I've got to Walk all night."

"Law me!" ejaculated his good-hearted hostess; "if I haven't forgot to
help ye, I was so scared 'bout the Injuns;" and she passed it, adding,
"Husband, you jist go down cellar, and bring up a pumpkin pie, and
some o' that gingerbread. The boy mustn't leave this huss till he's
had his fill;" and the tears came into her large blue eyes. "And are
you going with the sojers over among the Injuns where your father and
mother is?"

"Yes," answered Tom.

"Why, it seems to me that a stripling like you had best stay behind,
and keep out o' danger. One o' them Injuns wouldn't make nothin' o'
taking your scalp."

Tom's spirit rose at this, and he told them how he killed the Indian
in the morning.

"Well, I never!" said the good lady, in blank astonishment. "Why, I
don't s'pose my husband here woul