"Set down, Dave. I want to talk to you. You done right to fight fer yer folks, and you're a good fighter, which every boy orter be, but when I come up to you and Jud I see that in yer face that I didn't know was in you. You've got an orful temper, Dave. It's a good thing to hev--a mighty good thing, if you kin take keer of it, but if you let it go it's what leads to murder. Your pa hed the same kind of let-loose temper that got him into heaps of trouble." "What did my father do?" he asked abruptly. Instinctively he had shrunk from asking his mother this question, and pride had forbidden his seeking the knowledge elsewhere. "Some day, when you are older, you will know all about it. But remember, when any one says anything like what Jud did, that yer ma wouldn't want fer you to hev thoughts of killin'. You see, you fought jest as well--probably better--when you hed cooled off a mite and hed promised to fight fair. And ef you can't wrastle your temper and down it as you did Jud, you're not a fust-class fighter." "I'll try," said David slowly, unable, however, to feel much remorse for his outbreak. "Jud'll let you alone arter this. You'd better go to bed now. You need a little extry sleep." M'ri came into his room when he was trying to mend a long rent in his shirt. He flushed uncomfortably when her eye fell on the garment. She took it from him. "I'll mend it, David. I don't wonder that your patience slipped its leash, but--never fight when you have murder in your heart." When she had left the room, Janey's face, pink and fair as a baby rose, looked in at the door. "It's very wicked to fight and get so mad, Davey." "I know it," he acknowledged readily. It was useless trying to make a girl understand. There was a silence. Janey still lingered. "Davey," she asked in an awed whisper, "does it feel nice to be wicked?" David shook his head non-committally. CHAPTER V The rather strained relations between Jud and David were eased the next day by the excitement attending the big package Barnabas brought from town. It was addressed to David, but the removal of the outer wrapping disclosed a number of parcels neatly labeled, also a note from Joe, asking him to distribute the presents. David first selected the parcel marked "Janey" and handed it to her. "Blue beads!" she cried ecstatically. "Let me see, Janey," said M'ri. "Why, they're real turquoises and with a gold clasp! I'll get you a string of blue beads for now, and you can put these away till you're grown up." "I didn't tell Joe what to get for you, Aunt M'ri; honest, I didn't," disclaimed David, with a laugh, as he handed the freezer to her. "We'll initiate it this very day, David." David handed Barnabas his pipe and gave Jud a letter which he opened wonderingly, uttering a cry of pleasure when he realized the contents. "It's an order on Harkness to let me pick out any rifle in his store. How did he know? Did you tell him, Dave?" "Yes," was the quiet reply.