the one man who had said nothing.

Arv Law stood erect, his pike-pole poised in both hands, and we
were all ready for action. We could hear the rattle of many hoofs
on the road. As soon as the column showed in the firelight, Bill
Foster up with his musket and pulled the trigger. I could hear the
shot scatter on stump and stone. Every man had his gun to his eye.

"Wait till they come nearer," said Asher Eastman.

The Indians had halted. Far behind them we could hear the wild
hallooing of many voices. In a moment we could see those on
horseback go galloping off in the direction whence they had come.
Back in the house a number of the women were praying. My mother
came out, her face whiter than I had ever seen it before, and
walked to my father, and kissed him without ever saying a word.
Then she went back into the house.

"Scairt?" I inquired, turning to Rose, who now stood beside me.

"I should think I was," she whispered. "I 'm all of a tremble."

"If anything happens, I 'd like something to remember you by."

"What?" she whispered.

I looked at her beautiful red lips. She had never let me kiss them.

"A kiss, if nothing more," I answered.