"About a month."

"And where are you going," etc. Joseph, like papa, remained awake, but
like him, like all of us, longed with all his soul for the end of that
night of horror.

At the first crowing of the cock the denizens of the hut were astir. The
father and son took their guns and went into the forest. The fire was
relighted. The woman washed some hominy in a pail and seemed to have
forgotten our presence; but the little girl recognized Alix, who took from
her own neck a bright silk handkerchief and tied it over the child's head,
put a dollar in her hand, and kissed her forehead. Then it was Suzanne's
turn. She covered her with kisses. The little one laughed, and showed the
turban and the silver that "the pretty lady," she said, had given her.
Next, my sister dropped, one by one, upon the pallet ten dollars, amazing
the child with these playthings; and then she took off her red belt and
put it about her little pet's neck.

My father handed me a handful of silver. "They are very poor, my daughter;
pay them well for their hospitality." As I approached the woman I heard
Joseph thank her and offer her money.

"What do you want me to do with that?" she said, pushing my hand away.
"Instead of that, send me some coffee and tobacco."

That ended it; I could not pay in money. But when I looked at the poor
woman's dress so ragged and torn, I took off [J'autai] my shawl, which was
large and warm, and put it on her shoulders,--I had another in the
boat,--and she was well content. When I got back to the flatboat I sent