-when days of danger and sleepless nights of peril came!

There was so much to be done that time passed quickly. The Sunday
preceding the Monday morning on which they were to start, Ree and John
went to church together, and heard the good old preacher make special
reference to them in his prayer--that God would guide and protect the
young wayfarers and that they would not forget His mercy and wisdom.
Every eye in the church was turned toward the boys, embarrassing them
more than a little and making them wish they were safely started and well
away from their excellent but altogether too curious friends.

Ree went home to dinner with John, and on his way to the Catesby farm in
the evening he went across the fields to the quiet church-yard. Under the
clear, cold stars he sat beside a grassy mound and for an hour was quiet
as the grave itself. Many tender memories crept through his heart and in
his thoughts was an unspoken prayer. Thus he took leave of the spot to
him most sacred--his angel mother's grave.

To his surprise Ree found Mrs. Catesby and Mary waiting for him in the
combined sitting-room and kitchen, when he entered the house.

"As you will be leaving so very early, sir, we thought to say good-bye to
you to-night," said Mary with feigned solemnity. And a little later she
said as they were talking, "I do hope you will be as good as your name
and will bring your scalp safely home with you when you do 'return'."

Ree laughed and promised he would do so, but he blushed, and seeing
which, Mary Catesby did the same, and looked her very prettiest.

"We shall think of you often, Return, and maybe you will be able
sometimes to send us a letter. We shall be glad to hear from you, and oh,
my boy, be careful--careful in all things," Mrs. Catesby said.

There were more teasing words from Mary, and more advice and real tears,
from Mrs. Catesby and her daughter, too, before the final good-byes were
said at last.

* * * * *

The late September sun spread a soft, warm haze over old Connecticut. A
great, two-wheeled, canvas-covered cart lumbered slowly along the country
road. Walking beside the one large horse which drew the vehicle, was
Return Kingdom, his battered beaver hat on the back of his head, a smile
of buoyant hope upon his lips. Sitting on a chest, his feet hanging over
the front of the wagon box, his back against a bundle of blankets which
made a fine cushion, was John