wollen
and discolored; and altogether the face presented a pitiable appearance.

As David talked, the hard look which had been exorcised for a time by
the gentle influence of that home, and more than all by the sight of
Cassandra performing the gracious services of the household, settled
again upon the youth's face. His lips were drawn, and his eyes ceased
following Cassandra, and became fixed and narrowed on one spot.

"You have come near losing that splendid eye of yours, do you know that,
little chap?" Hoyle grinned. "It's a shame, you know. I have something
up at the cabin would help to heal this, but--" he glanced about the
room--"What are those dried herbs up there?"

"Thar is witch hazel yandah in the cupboard. Cass, ye mount bile some up
fer th' doctah," said the mother. "Tell th' doctah hu-come hit happened,
son; you hain't afeared of him, be ye?" A trampling of horse's hoofs was
heard outside. "Go up garret to your own place, Frale. What ye bid'n
here fer?" she added, in a hushed voice, but the youth sat doggedly
still.

Cassandra went out and quickly returned. "It's your own horse, Frale.
Poor beast! He's limping like he's been hurt. He's loose out there. You
better look to him."

"Uncle Carew rode him down an' lef' him, I reckon." Frale rose and went
out, and David continued his care of the child.

"How was it? Did your brother hurt you?"

"Naw. He nevah hurted me all his life. Hit--war my own se'f--"

Cassandra patted the child on his shoulder. "He can't beah to tell
hu-come he is hurted this way, he is that proud. It was a mean, bad,
coward man fetched him such a blow across the face. He asked little son
something, and when Hoyle nevah said a word, he just lifted his arm and
hit him, and then rode off like he had pleased himself." A flush of
anger kindled in her cheeks. "Nevah mind, son. Doctah can fix you up all
right."

A sigh of relief trembled through the boy's lips, and David asked no
more questions.

"You hain't goin' to tie me up that-a-way, be you?" He pointed to the
bed whereon his mother lay, and they all laughed, relieving the tension.

"Naw," shrilled the mother's voice, "but I reckon doctah mount take off
your hade an' set hit on straight agin."

"I wisht he could," cried the child, no whit troubled by the suggestion.
"I'd bar a heap fer to git my hade straight like Frale's." Just then his
brother entered the room. "You reckon doctah kin take off my hade an'
set hit straight lik