d, however, when she saw
how Clarice and the Indian were employed.

"Me dare say de stranger would like food as well as drink," she observed
as she joined them, and making signs to the Indian to inquire if he was
hungry.

He nodded his head, and uttered some words. But although neither
Clarice nor Rachel could understand his language, they saw very clearly
that he greatly required food.

"Come along, den," said Rachel; "you shall hab some in de twinkle ob an
eye, as soon as we get home.--Missie Clarice, me carry de pitcher, or
Indian fancy you white slavey;" and Rachel laughed at her own wit.

She then told Clarice how she had caught sight of the Indian coming over
the mountain, as she was driving home the cow; and that, as he was
making his way towards the spring, she had been dreadfully alarmed at
the idea that he might surprise her young mistress. She thought it
possible, too, that he might be accompanied by other Redskins, and that
they should perhaps carry her off; or, at all events, finding the house
undefended, they might pillage it, and get away with their booty before
the return of the men.

"But he seems friendly and well-disposed," said Clarice, looking at the
Indian; "and even if he had not been suffering from hunger and thirst, I
do not think he would have been inclined to do us any harm. The
Redskins are not all bad; and many, I fear, have been driven, by the ill
treatment they have received from white men, to retaliate, and have
obtained a worse character than they deserve."

"Dere are bad red men, and bad white men, and bad black men; but, me
tink, not so many ob de last," said Rachel, who always stuck up for her
own race.

The red man seemed to fancy that they were talking about him; and he
tried to smile, but failed in the attempt. It was with difficulty, too,
he could drag on his weary limbs.

As soon as they reached the house Rachel made him sit down; and within a
minute or two a basin of broth was placed before him, at which she blew
away until her cheeks almost cracked, in an endeavour to cool it, that
he might the more speedily set to. He assisted her, as far as his
strength would allow, in the operation; and then placing the basin to
his lips, he eagerly drained off its contents, without making use of the
wooden spoon with which she had supplied him.

"Dat just to keep body and soul togedder, till somet'ing more 'stantial
ready for you," she said.

Clarice had in the meantime be