[Andrew Smith's fiddle gives out the first notes of a reel. Those who are bending at their various occupations begin to nod and trip. In an instant everything is dropped, and the young people are all for merriment. They begin, center of sward, a grand right and left. Andrew Smith stands at right fiddling with the greatest possible gusto. As the dance ends, Andrew Smith points with his fiddle-bow to a figure seen approaching from the background, a tall, lank, kindly-faced boy, dressed like the others but with an ax over his shoulder. ALL (with a loud cry--intense delight--at the very top of their lungs). Lincoln! Abe Lincoln! [They run to meet him. He comes down center with an admiring group on each side. NANCY LINCOLN (looking up at Abe). It wasn't really a holiday till you came. [Lincoln smiles at her, and then turns to Tom Bush. LINCOLN (as he and Nancy and Tom Bush form a group at fire: the rest up stage, left). What have you been doing, Tom? TOM BUSH. Fixing the fire, and now I'm going to see about getting the right sort of wood for the floor of a squirrel-cage. I caught a squirrel yesterday, and I------Oh, I forgot! You wouldn't be interested in that. You said yesterday that if you were me you would let the squirrel go. LINCOLN (looking straight before him to something far beyond the narrow world of Little Creek). I don't like to see things in cages: I like to see 'em _free_. I believe in freedom for everything living! AMY ROBY (breaking in upon the group). Come, Tom, there's another dance beginning! [Lincoln sits on log, near fire, and begins to roast some ears of corn which the boys have stacked near by. The young people beckon Lincoln. He shakes his head, watches them, smiling. A Virginia Reel is started at left. Lincoln, who is still seated on log, and those who are dancing the reel, are so absorbed that they are oblivious of a group of Indians stalking down from right. The Indians draw near to Lincoln, and stand motionless, watching the dance, their beads and headgear glittering in the sun, their blankets a brilliant blotch of color against the green. When the dance ends, Lincoln and his companions are aware of the Indians. But the Indians, although their desire is to trade the skins and furs they are carrying, cross to left, feigning entire indifference, and seat themselves in a semicircle. Red Plume in passing Lincoln has given him a grave "How!" to which Lincoln has returned "How!" with equal gravity. The settlers stand in a group at right, a little towards the background, watching the Indians. The Indians continue to sit in a grave circle. An old Indian smokes. Two of the Indian maidens appear to chatter. Finally Dark Cloud rises with a bundle of skins in his hand. The young settlers come down to right foreground. Dark Cloud puts the bundle of skins on the ground. Asks them, by gesture: "What will they give?"