"But I saw lots of them this morning not more than twelve miles from here, and they looked fierce enough in their war-paint, and with the bloody scalps dangling from their bodies." "Goodness gracious!" exclaimed the good lady; and, again forgetting herself, she paused with the pork, letting the fat drip upon the snowy cloth. "I told you, husband, they'd be down upon us yet, and we more'n three miles from any neighbor." And as Tom commenced his recital of the occurrences of the morning, she sat down in her chair with the slice of meat still in its elevated position, and the gravy dripping into her lap, while the husband ceased eating, and listened with open-mouthed interest. Tom eyed the pork longingly as he continued his narration, and, seeing no prospect of getting it, abruptly said,-- "I hadn't tasted a bit of food till I came here since five o'clock this morning, and I've got to Walk all night." "Law me!" ejaculated his good-hearted hostess; "if I haven't forgot to help ye, I was so scared 'bout the Injuns;" and she passed it, adding, "Husband, you jist go down cellar, and bring up a pumpkin pie, and some o' that gingerbread. The boy mustn't leave this huss till he's had his fill;" and the tears came into her large blue eyes. "And are you going with the sojers over among the Injuns where your father and mother is?" "Yes," answered Tom. "Why, it seems to me that a stripling like you had best stay behind, and keep out o' danger. One o' them Injuns wouldn't make nothin' o' taking your scalp." Tom's spirit rose at this, and he told them how he killed the Indian in the morning. "Well, I never!" said the good lady, in blank astonishment. "Why, I don't s'pose my husband here would be any more dependence if them wild critters should come beseeching our dwelling than a three-year-old." At which the husband thrust his hand up into his wiry hair, till he made it stand upon end all over his head, while he grew very red in the face, and said, fiercely,-- "Let the varmints come on if they wants to. Guess I could stand it if you could." Tom saw that there was danger of a falling out between his fat, overgrown hostess and her diminutive husband, and adroitly said,-- "We don't any one of us know what we could do until the time comes. I was surprised myself at what I had done." "Well," said the woman, restored to good humor, "there's a great deal o' good sense in that remark. I know it from experience. For when I had the toothache so that I couldn't sleep nights for a week, and husband wanted to take me over to Groveville, to the doctor's, I felt as weak as dish-water; but when I got there, I had out two jaw teeth and a stump without wincin', as you may say, and the doctor said he'd like me for a subject to pull on all the time. But I told him it would take two to make a bargain on that, I reckoned;" and she laughed heartily at the remembrance of her own wit. But Tom had finished his meal, and rose to go, when his hostess said,--