Her voice failed, and her eyelids drooped. In some anxiety Haward watched
her breathing and felt for the pulse in the slight brown wrist; then,
satisfied, he lifted the light burden, and, nodding to the negro to go
before, recommenced his progress to the hill which he had left an hour
agone.

It was not far away. He could see the bare summit above the treetops, and
in a little while they were upon its slope. A minute more and they came to
the clump of trees, and found the horses in safety, Haward paused to take
from the roll strapped behind his saddle a riding cloak; then, leaving the
negro with the horses, climbed to the grassy level. Here he spread the
cloak upon the ground, and laid the sleeping child upon it, which done, he
stood and looked at his new-found charge for a moment; then turning, began
to pace up and down upon the hilltop.

It was necessary to decide upon a course of action. They had the horses,
the two muskets, powder and shot. The earth was dry and warm, and the
skies were cloudless. Was it best to push on to Germanna, or was it best
to wait down there in the valley for the return of the Governor and his
party? They would come that way, that was certain, and would look to find
him there. If they found only the ruined cabin, they might think him dead
or taken by the Indians, and an attempt to seek him, as dangerous,
perhaps, as fruitless, might be made. He decided that he would wait.
To-morrow he would take Juba and the horses and the child and go down into
the valley; not back to the sugar-tree and that yet smouldering pyre, but
to the woods on this side of the stream.

This plan thought out, he went; and took his seat beside the child. She
was moaning in her sleep, and he bent over and soothed her. When she was