Joe sat thinking, too. He was wondering if the Indian girl went back to her people with her white husband, and if she was a good ruler after her father died. "A penny for your thoughts!" said Uncle Sam suddenly. He spoke to Joe. "I can't imagine that Indian princess ruling her people after the white man's fashion. I do not believe it would have suited the Indians." The boy spoke slowly. "I think you are right, Joe," Uncle Sam answered. "But I believe she did not have a chance to try. The Indians were not willing to let a woman take the old chief's place. They chose his brother, I believe. "Now I will tell you what I was thinking of myself. When I spoke of Pocahontas, I went on to think of the people of Virginia. You might say they lived next door to Maryland. They had a great deal of trouble with the Indians, while their neighbors in Maryland did not have any. "The people of Maryland lived in peace and let others come to settle among them. It did not matter whether these newcomers were Catholics like themselves, or Quakers, or Puritans. Anyone who wished was allowed to live with them and believe as he liked. "The only trouble they did have was with Virginia. It was about an island in the river. Both colonies claimed that island. They even had battles with each other before the trouble was settled. Maryland was not much to blame, however. Her people always seemed to wish for peace. "A happier colony never settled in America than the Catholics who came to Maryland because of their kind friend Lord Baltimore." CHAPTER XIV THE POOR DEBTORS "This is the last chance for a story for a long time and I am sorry," said Joe. Lucy looked sad too. She was sorry to have Uncle Sam go away. "We shall miss the nice stories, but we shall miss you even more than the stories," she said, putting her arms around her old friend's neck. Uncle Sam had been called to New York on business. He might be gone two months. It might even be a longer time than that. He could not tell. He looked from one child to the other with a face beaming with love. "One more story. Yes, that is all. Then you children will have time to think over what I have told you. And when I come back you will be ready to hear some more. It is a good thing, after all, for me to go away and give you a rest. "You see, children, I get wound up just like a clock. If I once get to going, I can't stop unless something makes me." "Give us a rest, indeed!" cried Joe. "Lucy and I are not babies. We like stories that mean something, now that we are nine years old. Besides, you could not tire us anyway, Uncle Sam." The old man looked pleased. "Well, well, I am glad to hear it. But it is almost dark already. I will begin at once with the story I promised for this evening.