She turned to me, lips parted in a tormenting smile, and I praised the cast and took my hatchet from Ruyven to try once more. Yet again I broke skin on the thigh of the pictured captive; and again the glistening axe left Dorothy's hand, whirring to a safe score, a grass-stem's width from the Indian's head. I understood that I had met my master, yet for the third time strove; and my axe whistled true, standing point-bedded a finger's breadth from the cheek. "Can you mend that, Dorothy?" I asked, politely. She stood smiling, silent, hatchet poised, then nodded, launching the axe. Crack! came the handles of the two hatchets, and rattled together. But the blade of her hatchet divided the space betwixt my blade and the painted face, nor touched the outline by a fair hair's breadth. Astonishment was in my face, not chagrin, but she misread me, for the triumph died out in her eyes, and, "Oh!" she said; "I did not mean to win--truly I did not," offering her hands in friendly amend. But at my quick laugh she brightened, still holding my hands, regarding me with curious eyes, brilliant as amethysts. "I was afraid I had hurt your pride--before these silly children--" she began. "Children!" shouted Ruyven. "I bet you ten shillings he can outcast you yet!" "Done!" she flashed, then, all in a breath, smiled adorably and shook her head. "No, I'll not bet. He could win if he chose. We understand each other, my cousin Ormond and I," and gave my hands a little friendly shake with both of hers, then dropped them to still Ruyven's clamor for a wager. "You little beast!" she said, fiercely; "is it courteous to pit your guests like game-cocks for your pleasure?" "You did it yourself!" retorted Ruyven, indignantly--"and entered the pit yourself." "For a jest, silly! There were no bets. Now frown and vapor and wag your finger--do! What do you lack? I will wrestle you if you wait until I don my buckskins. No? A foot-race?--and I'll bet you your ten shillings on myself! Ten to five--to three--to one! No? Then hush your silly head!" "Because," said Ruyven, sullenly, coming up to me, "she can outrun me with her long legs, she gives herself the devil's own airs and graces. There's no living with her, I tell you. I wish I could go to the war." "You'll have to go when father declares himself," observed Dorothy, quietly polishing her hatchet on its leather sheath. "But he won't declare for King or Congress," retorted the boy. "Wait till they start to plague us," murmured Dorothy. "Some fine July day cows will be missed, or a barn burned, or a shepherd found scalped. Then you'll see which way the coin spins!" "Which way will it spin?" demanded Ruyven, incredulous yet eager. "Ask that squirrel yonder," she said, briefly. "Thanks; I've asked enough of chatterers," he snapped out, and came to the tree where we were sitting in the shadow on the cool, thick carpet of the grass--such grass as I had never seen in that fair Southland which I loved.