ur years since Ruth and I took
up this yer claim, and raised this shanty. In that four years we haven't
left it alone a night, or cared to. It's only big enough for two, and
them two must be brothers. It wouldn't do for mere pardners to live here
alone,--they couldn't do it. It wouldn't be exactly the thing for man
and wife to shut themselves up here alone. But Ruth and me know
each other's ways, and here we'll stay until we've made a pile. We
sometimes--one of us--takes a pasear to the Ferry to buy provisions; but
we're glad to crawl up to the back of old 'Table' at night."

"You're quite out of the world here, then?" suggested Mrs. Sol.

"That's it, just it! We're out of the world,--out of rows, out of
liquor, out of cards, out of bad company, out of temptation. Cussedness
and foolishness hez got to follow us up here to find us, and there's too
many ready to climb down to them things to tempt 'em to come up to us."

There was a little boyish conceit in his tone, as he stood there, not
altogether unbecoming his fresh color and simplicity. Yet, when his
eyes met those of Miss Euphemia, he colored, he hardly knew why, and the
young lady herself blushed rosily.

When the neat cabin, with its decorated walls, and squirrel and wild-cat
skins, was duly admired, the luncheon-basket of the Saunders party was
re-enforced by provisions from Rand's larder, and spread upon the
ledge; the dimensions of the cabin not admitting four. Under the potent
influence of a bottle, Sol became hilarious and professional. The "Pet"
was induced to favor the company with a recitation, and, under the plea
of teaching Rand, to perform the clog-dance with both gentlemen. Then
there was an interval, in which Rand and Euphemia wandered a little way
down the mountain-side to gather laurel, leaving Mr. Sol to his siesta
on a rock, and Mrs. Sol to take some knitting from the basket, and sit
beside him.

When Rand and his companion had disappeared, Mrs. Sol nudged her
sleeping partner. "Do you think that WAS the brother?"

Sol yawned. "Sure of it. They're as like as two peas, in looks."

"Why didn't you tell him so, then?"

"Will you tell me, my dear, why you stopped me when I began?"

"Because something was said about Ruth being here; and I supposed Ruth
was a woman, and perhaps Pinkney's wife, and knew you'd be putting your
foot in it by talking of that other woman. I supposed it was for fear of
that he denied knowing you."

"Well, when HE--t