"I think," said Charlie, soothingly, with a profound air, "that the settlers have got together and driven off the Indians, and taken our folks where they'll be safe; and now, Bub, we'll live here like Robinson Crusoe on the island, and you shall be my Friday till our folks come back; for, you see, they'll find out that we ain't with them, and they'll come and take us away." "Can't we go where our folks is now?" inquired Bub, beginning to cry. "It's so dark we can't find them," said Charlie. "Won't the Indians come and hurt us?" Charlie started at the thought. "I don't know," he replied, shaking his head doubtfully; "'twould be just like them. But I'll tell you what I'll do. There's a good many Indians been killed around the house, and I'll just go out and get all the rifles I can, and then let them try it if they want to. Why, Robinson Crusoe drove off twenty-nine canoes full, and I bet he didn't have so many guns as I'll have." And hastening out, he kept finding and bringing them in until he had a dozen. "Now," said he, "I'll bring in lots of wood, and we'll keep the fire crackling;" and he stirred the burning limbs to make the sparks fly; "and if the Indians return, they'll think there's a big houseful of men in here. Besides," he added, "if our folks see the sparks from the chimney, they'll know you and I are here, and return for us. And on the whole, I guess I'd rather go with them, than to fight the cannibals alone; for if I should happen to be killed, I suppose they'd have to eat me, and I'd rather not be eaten." Charlie brought from the enclosure a fine pile of wood and a pail of water, then went out to see that the outer door was secured, and closed the shutter in the room. He then proceeded to examine the rifles,--for he was well versed in fire-arms, like western boys generally,--and carefully cleaned and loaded them. "Now," said he, "Crusoe had his seven guns mounted, and I'll mount my twelve." Fortunately for his scheme, the places had been already prepared. After this was done, he went down into the cellar to see if there was anything to eat, and finding some food, he returned, and hanging the tea-kettle over the fire, he poured some boiling water upon the tea-grounds in the tea-pot, then set the table for himself and Bub, and assigning Bub one chair, and getting another for himself, said,-- "We might as well live like folks, as long as we are out of the tree." Then, having finished their repast, he said,-- "I feel tired, it's so long since I've had a good sleep; so I guess we'd better go to bed." And lying down upon the bed in the corner, with an arm lovingly clasping little Bub, they sank into the sweet sleep of childhood. CHAPTER XIX. BUB'S BROADSIDE.