plaything, if it had been left in the
house. Although his situation prevented his seeing anything in the rear
of the building, he was sure the dreaded Indians were not yet in sight,
and he desired to make a hasty survey of the interior of the house
himself.

How familiar everything looked! There were the chairs placed against the
wall, and the deal table in the middle of the room. Melville noticed
that the pictures which had hung so long on the walls had been taken
away. They were portraits of the members of the family, and the mother
looked upon them as too precious to be allowed to run any risk of loss.
A few other valuables, including the old Bible, had been removed; but
the parents were too wise to increase their own danger by loading
themselves with goods, however much they regretted leaving them behind.

Although there was an old-fashioned fire-place, the Clarendons used a
large stove standing near it. Curiosity led Melville to examine it, and
he smiled to find it still warm. The ashes within, when stirred, showed
some embers glowing beneath. There was something in the fact which made
the youth feel as though the distance between him and his parents had
become less than a short time before.

"Strange that I took the upper trail," he said to himself, resuming his
standing position, "and thereby missed them. It's the first time I have
been over that course for a long while, and it beats me that to-day when
I shouldn't have done so I must do it; but fortunately no harm was
done."

It struck him that Dot was taking an unusually long time in the search
for her doll. Walking to the foot of the stairs, he called to her--

"It won't do to wait any longer, Dot; we must be off. If you can't find
your doll, it's because mother took it with her."

"I've found it! I've found it!" she exclaimed, dancing with delight; "I
had hid it in the bed, where mother didn't see it; bless your soul,
Susie!"

And Melville laughed as he heard a number of vigorous smacks which told
how much the child loved her pet.

"I suppose you are happy now," remarked Melville, taking her hand, while
he held his gun in the other, as they walked towards the door.

"Indeed I am," she replied, with that emphatic shake of the head by
which children of her years often give force to their words.

Melville placed his hand on the latch of the door, and, raising it, drew
the structure inward. He had lowered his arm and once more taken the
hand of his s