Barney, who were slowly working away with
pick, axe, and spade.

"Men," he said, "you have claimed your discharge; you shall have it, if
you are willing to go and take service at Roaring Water."

"Sure, with the greatest pleasure in me life; there's not a finer
gintleman on this side of the Atlantic than Mr Crockett," said Barney.

Klitz simply gave a grunt of acquiescence.

The whole matter was arranged; and they were to return with me the next
day. I was also glad to obtain two more men, who, though they belonged
to that class of individuals known, as "Uncle Sam's bad bargains," and
might be lazy rascals when labouring for a Government for which they did
not care a cent, turned out to be very ready to serve a master who
treated them kindly and paid them well. As we travelled along they
showed no inclination to decamp, but chatted and laughed, each in his
own style--Barney being undoubtedly the leading wit of the party. They
were heartily welcome at Roaring Water, and both Klitz and Barney showed
that they were willing and able to work. The only thing which seemed to
put the German out was when any allusion was made to a wheel-barrow.

We had just begun active operations when Winnemak came to see his
daughter. Maysotta, however, had no inclination to return with him, and
begged that she might remain to assist her new friend, from whom she was
hearing more wonderful things daily, as well as gaining more knowledge.
Winnemak offered us the services of some of his men, who were willing to
work for wages; and although they were not equal to the worst of the
white men, yet, by Uncle Jeff's good management, they were made very
useful.

From some passing emigrant trains we obtained a good supply of tools,--
axes and saws,--and we were busily at work from sunrise to sunset.
Clarice and Rachel had succeeded in recovering some of the cattle, pigs,
and poultry which had strayed, and in a short time the farm began to
assume something of its former appearance.

I had, one afternoon, come back from the forest in which we obtained our
timber, in order to get a fresh axe in place of one which I had broken,
when I found Maysotta alone in the hut. On asking for Clarice, I was
told she had gone to the cool fountain for a pitcher of water. It
struck me that something was amiss with the Indian girl, but what it was
I could not tell I was going on to the mill, where I expected to find an
axe, when Maysotta added--

"The youn