comes, the prick of a
pin will kill him and nothin on airth ken save him. Wall, the fust
thing I did when I found myself alive, was to look for the Honey, and
afore I hed a chance fur to help her, that are Sherman happened along,
and left me in charge of his hoss, while he went fur to fetch her. The
fust thing I hearn was a great hollerin fur a bottle of wine that he
had in his sleigh. Wall, I took the infarnel stuff and slung it as fur
as I could see and told him there want nun there."

"Miss DeWolf would give you fits if she knew what you'd done," said
Sorrel Top, "the wine want yourn."

"Wall, it was the devil's, and I slung it tu him," retorted Daddy
triumphantly, "that are Sherman was riled, and I let him sweat, fur I
want a goin fur to hev him pour pisen down the Honey. No doubt, if he
had gin it tu her, her blood would hev got heated and fever hev sot
in. Some folks don't seem to know nothin about them things," said the
speaker darting a contemptous glance at Sorrel Top.

"Well, Daddy, what happened next?" said Mrs. Hawley, soothingly.

"I ain't a goin fur to tell nothin more tonight," said Daddy
decidedly. "If folks can't listen without interruptin me, they may
wait till they ken," and he shot another meaning glance at the
offending Sorrel Top.

"I guess," said Sorrel Top with some asperity "you're not the only one
that can tell me about it, is he Fanny?" she said turning to Fanny
Green, whom she discovered to have fallen fast asleep in her chair.

"'Tween you an me," said Daddy rather dryly, "I guess you won't hear
no more of that are story to-night."

Sorrel Top's temper was slightly ruffled and she began to shake Fanny
rather roughly. "Wake up, Fanny," said she "wake up."

"Oh! Mrs. Wycoff, don't whip me," mourned Fanny piteously, as she
opened her eyes, "I didn't mean to go to sleep, but I was so tired."

"Don't you know no better than to treat a little motherless thing in
that are way?" said Daddy coming indignantly forward. "Come here,
Fanny," and he took the child tenderly in his arms; "if anybody speaks
a cross word to you in this are house, they'll git reported."

By degrees Fanny awoke, and was borne off to bed by Mrs. Hawley.

Scarcely had they gone when a new object of interest attracted Daddy's
attention. There was a slight rustling at the outside door, and in
stalked a sturdy Indian in blanket and leggins and soft moccasins,
causing his firm tread to fall noiselessly, and giving Daddy