id the shiftless one.
Silent Tom stared at them in amazement.
"What's the matter, Tom?" asked Paul. "Why do you look at them in that
manner?"
"Agreed!" replied Silent Tom.
"What?"
"Agreed!"
"Agreed? Oh, I understand what you mean! Sol and Jim hold the same
opinion about something."
"Yes. Fust time!"
"Don't you be worried, Tom Ross," said Shif'less Sol, "I'll see that it
never happens ag'in."
"Me, too," said Long Jim Hart. "You see, Tom, that wuz the only time in
his life that Sol wuz ever right when he wuz disputin' with me, an' me
bein' a truthful man had to agree with him."
Another week passed and the atmosphere of peace and content that clothed
the great marsh grew deeper. The waters subsided somewhat, but it was
still impossible to pass from the oasis to the firm land without, except
in a canoe, and that they did not have. Nor was it likely that the
Indians would produce a canoe merely to navigate a flooded marsh. While
sure that none would come, all nevertheless kept a good watch for a
possible invader.
The weather began to turn cooler and the first fading tints appeared on
the foliage. It was the time when one season passed into another,
usually accompanied by rains and winds, but they were more numerous than
usual this year. The strong little hut again and again proved its
usefulness, not only as a storehouse, but as a shelter, although it was
so crowded now with stores that scarcely room was left for the five to
sleep there. The skins of the two bears had been dressed and Henry and
Paul slept upon them, while much of their cured food hung from pegs
which they contrived to fix into the walls.
As the waters sank still farther, they noticed that the swamp was full
of life. What had seemed to be a waste was inhabited in reality by many
of the people of the wilderness. The five had approached it from the
west, and now Henry, who was able to go farther east than they had been
before, found a small beaver colony at a point on the brook, where there
was enough firm ground to support a little grove of fine trees.
The beavers had dammed the stream and were already building their houses
for the distant winter. Henry, hidden among the bushes, watched them
quite a while, interested in their work, and observing their methods of
construction. He could easily have shot two or three, and beaver tail
was good to eat, but he had no thought of molesting them, and, after he
had seen enough, drew off ca
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