Where the mountain waters run,
Ike, reclining, watched the horses,
Now increased to quite a band,
While above him, in the timber,
Brother Bill, with gun in hand,
Held it poised in sudden wonder,
Half in attitude to shoot,
As he saw the coming rider,
Heard his loudly yelled salute.
Near an old abandoned cabin,
Huddled by the breakfast fire,
Resting calm in fancied safety
Sat the elder MacIntyre.

[Illustration: "Resting calm in fancied safety
Sat the elder MacIntyre."]


28

"You! Why, Billy, where d'you come from?
What new game you playing now?
If you're out on posse business
By the gods, jest start your row!
What you saying? You are friendly?
Wal, I'm glad to hear it's so;
And I s'pose you made the journey
Way out here to let me know!
Oh! you're talking 'bout our Nancy!
Now I just begin to see.