Melissa?" And Melissa said that her brother Tom had made one trip, and that
Dolph and Rube were "might' nigh crazy" to go that coming spring; and,
thereupon, a mighty resolution filled Chad's heart to the brim and steadied
his eyes, but he did not open his lips then.

Dusk was settling when the Turner cabin came in sight. None of the men-folks
had come home yet, and the mother was worried; there was wood to cut and the
cows to milk, and Chad's friend, old Betsey the brindle, had strayed off
again; but she was glad to see Caleb Hazel, who, without a word, went out to
the wood-pile, took off his coat, and swung the axe with mighty arms, while
Chad carried in the wood and piled it in the kitchen and then the two went
after the old brindle together.

When they got back there was a great tumult at the cabin. Tom had brought some
friends from over the mountain, and had told the neighbors as he came along
that there was going to be a party at his house that night.

So there was a great bustle about the barn where Rube was getting the stock
fed and the milking done; and around the kitchen, where Dolph was cutting more
wood and piling it up at the door. Inside, the mother was hurrying up supper
with Sintha, an older daughter, who had just come home from a visit, and
Melissa helping her, while old Joel sat by the fire in the sleeping-room and
smoked, with Jack lying on the hearth, or anywhere he pleased, for Jack, with
his gentle ways, was winning the household one by one. He sprang up when he
heard Chad's voice, and flew at him, jumping up and pawing him affectionately
and licking his face while Chad hugged him and talked to him as though he were
human and a brother; never before had the two been separated for a day. So,
while the master helped Rube at the barn and Chad helped Dolph at the
wood-pile, Jack hung about his master--tired and hungry as he was and much as
he wanted to be by the fire or waiting in the kitchen for a sly bit from