"And it was so funny, Ralph," continued the girl; "he actually said to me that he didn't care a bit for his mother, for she has the worst temper of any one he knows, and is always scolding when he goes to see her; but he won't have any one interfere with her, and he'll kill that captain for stealing the meal-bag as sure as he's alive." "Well, it shows he's a good son," said Ralph quietly. "But you see that it is not safe for you to go out." "Yes," said Minnie with a sigh; "but it seems very silly. The other day one was obliged to stop in because of the Edens; now it's because of those men." "I suppose it's as bad for the Edens as it is for us," replied Ralph, who became now very thoughtful; and when, soon afterwards, Minnie looked up to see why he did not speak, she found that his head was resting against the stone, beside a crenelle, and that he was fast asleep. "Poor boy!" she said softly, "he is weak yet, and soon worn-out. It was very brave of him to fight as he did--with Mark Eden, I mean--against the men who attacked them, and for both to be wounded. I wonder what Mark Eden is like. Ralph has met him three times, he says, but he only growls if I begin to ask him questions. What a pity it is, when we might all be so friendly and nice. How stupid it does seem of people to quarrel!" CHAPTER SIXTEEN. HOW MARK'S SISTER LOST HER WHIP. Fate seemed to be determined that the young people of the rival families should become intimate, in spite of all the stringent rules laid down by the heads; for Ralph was out one day, making a round, when it occurred to him that he would call upon Master Rayburn, to let him see how well the wound was healing up, and to say a few words of thanks to the old man for his kindness and attention. He found the object of his visit seated in a kind of grotto, shaded by a great sycamore, with his doublet off, hat on the floor, and beautifully white sleeves rolled up, busily at work, tying up some peculiar little combinations of wool, hair, and feathers, to the back of a hook; and as the lad approached, he held up the curious object by the piece of horsehair to which it was tied. "Well, patient," he said, "what do you think of that?" "Nothing at all," cried the lad. "No fish would ever take that. What do you call it?"