o harm f'om hit. I reckon Frale'll be safe. Be ye cryin'
fer him, Cass? Pore child! I nevah did think you keered fer Frale
that-a-way."

Then Cassandra burst forth with impetuous fire. "Oh, mother, mother!
Never say that name to me again. Mother, I saw them! I saw them
fighting--and all the time the doctor was bleeding--bleeding and dying,
where Frale had shot him. I don't know how long they'd been fighting,
but I came there and I saw them. I saw him slip and how Frale crushed
him down--down--and his head struck the rock. I saw--and I almost cursed
Frale. I hope I didn't--oh, I hope not! But mother, mother! Don't ask me
anything more now. Oh, I want to cry! I want to cry and never stop."

While she lay thus weeping, the soft rain that had been threatening all
day began pattering down, blessed and soothing, the rain to the earth
and the tears to the girl.

In spite of the rain, Thryng was carried home that afternoon according
to the physician's orders, and placed in his cabin with Aunt Sally to
stand guard over him and provide for his wants. A bed was improvised for
her on the floor of the cabin, while David lay in his own bed in his
canvas room, bandaged about both body and head, and withal moderately
comfortable, sufficiently himself to realize what had occurred, and
overjoyed because of the reward his wounds had brought him.

Doctor Bartlett came down to the Fall Place and was given the bed in the
loom shed as David had been, and had the pleasure of again seeing
Cassandra, who, her tears dried, and her manner composed, looked after
his needs as if no storms had ever shaken her soul.

CHAPTER XIX

IN WHICH DAVID SENDS HOKE BELEW ON A COMMISSION, AND CASSANDRA MAKES A
CONFESSION

Early one morning Hoke Belew put his head in at the door of Thryng's
cabin, where Aunt Sally was squatted before the fireplace, preparing
breakfast for the patient.

"How's doc?" he asked.

"He's right fa'r. He mount be worse an' he mount be bettah."

"You reckon I mount go in yandah whar he is at?"

"Ye can look an' see is he awake. I'm gittin' his hot bread an' coffee.
You bettah bide an' have a leetle," she said, with ever ready
hospitality.

He crossed the floor with careful steps and paused in the doorway of the
canvas room, big and smiling.

"That you, Hoke? Come in," said David, cheerfully. He extended a hand
which Hoke took in his and held awkwardly, shocked at the white face
before him.

"Ye do look puny," he