it ain't much kindness to give to those murderous red-skins when there's
plenty of white men wanting help. Well, if I'm not agoin' to shoot
anything, I guess I'd better go home."

With these last words, uttered half aloud, neighbor Hedden arose, and
walked a few steps in the direction of his home. Presently he paused
again, muttering to himself--

"It's blamed queer I haven't heard the youngsters coming down with the
scow; I certainly should have heard them if they'd passed anywhere
near--guess I'd best walk on a little way up stream."

So saying, he turned, with a new anxiety upon his countenance, and moved
with rapid strides toward the rivulet, that still ran rippling on,
though the bright sparkles that lit its surface at noon had vanished.
Indeed, by this time the sunshine was, fast vanishing, too, for heavy
clouds were gathering overhead, while those in the west were gilded on
their lower edge.




IV.

THE SEARCH.


Neighbor Hedden, now intent upon his new thoughts, hurried along the
bank of the stream. There were pretty tassel-flowers and Jack-in-pulpits
growing there, which at any other time he might have plucked, and