While this work was going on, one of the white men from the
village came over to see his new neighbors. He brought with him a
wild-turkey, half a dozen ducks, and a string of freshly caught
fish, as cards of introduction. His name was Bevil, and he
welcomed the Elmers most heartily, and said that he considered
their coming a sign of better times for that section of the
country. He told Mr. Elmer that the Bangs place used to be
considered one of the finest plantations in the county, and that
its lands were as rich now as ever.

Before night the lower story of the old house looked quite
comfortable, and almost homelike; and when the family sat down to
dinner, it was with the keen appetites resulting from hard work.
The dinner was a bountiful meal, largely composed of Mr. Bevil's
game and fish; and before they ate it Mr. Elmer offered up a
heart-felt thanksgiving for the mercies that had been granted them
thus far, and prayed for a blessing on their new home.

That evening he arranged with Captain Johnson to start at daylight
and go with his lighter to the nearest saw-mill, sixty miles away,
for a load of lumber and shingles. He also commissioned him to buy
and bring back a large skiff, such as were used on the river.

The tired household went early to bed that first night in their
new home, and though their beds were made down on the floor, they
all slept soundly.

All but Mark, who, after sleeping for some hours, woke suddenly to
find himself sitting bolt-upright in bed, and staring at the
broken window in front of him, through which a flood of moonlight