houses about our ears?" and sighing, he pursued his way.

Indignant anger, and tender pity and compassion filled his breast by
turns, on reaching the quarter and discovering the state of things
there; worse even than Park's report had made it.

He rode from cabin to cabin inquiring into the condition of the inmates
and speaking words of pity and of hope.

Finding several badly bruised and cut, and others suffering from gunshot
wounds, he sent to the house for lint, salve and bandages, and directed
a lad to run to the stables, saddle a horse; and go immediately for Dr.
Barton.

"De doctah ober to Ion now, sah," returned the boy, "debbils dore las'
night, too, sah."

"Run over to Ion, then, and ask the doctor to come here when he is
through there," said Mr. Leland.

Mr. Travilla came with the doctor and the two planters compared notes,
in regard to damages, Mr. Leland also telling the story of the coffin
laid at his door.

"What do you intend doing?" asked Mr. Travilla.

"Inclination says, 'Stay and brave it out;' but I have not yet fully
decided. I have invested all my means in this enterprise, and have a
wife and family of helpless little ones to support."