"Why, Kate, my child, what has happened? Why are you here, when your duty is at the Hodgkins?" asked Mrs. Armstrong, hastening to throw a reassuring arm around the shoulders of the slight figure that was shaking with emotion. The girl looked up, the tears shining in her blue eyes. There was also a flash of temper to be seen there, and evidently Kate had been recently aroused to a point where she could stand things no longer. "I am done with the Hodgkins," she cried, stamping her little foot on the clay floor; "I will never go back there again! I hate them, every one! Oh! it was so mean, so cowardly to say that!" Mrs. Armstrong turned pale, and her husband said something under his breath, as they exchanged uneasy glances. "Tell us, what did they dare say to you?" demanded Sandy, gritting his teeth. "They mocked me, and said my father was a barn-burner!" sobbed the girl, bitterly. CHAPTER VI THE DIE IS CAST "SAY it again, child!" roared the head of the little family, as he jumped to his feet, his strong features working. "David, be careful; let me mother the girl a bit, until she gets over her cry!" said Mrs. Armstrong; and as usual her soothing voice gained the mastery over the temper of the impulsive man. Bob and Sandy exchanged looks. Already smarting under the injustice of many who had called themselves friends in times past, this new indignity aroused all the Scotch combativeness in their natures. Instinctively they clenched their fists, and drew together, as though by mutual sympathy. The same thought had flashed into each mind--that _something_ must be done to check this rising tide before it utterly overwhelmed the Armstrong family. The mother saw that look, and in her heart understood. Proud she might be of the love that influenced her boys; still there was something higher than loyalty by which she must be governed, and this was duty. She managed to draw the whole sad story from the girl, amid several little tear-storms. Then she soothed and quieted Kate, who in the shelter of that motherly breast found comfort and presently dried her tears. The Irish trapper was a witness of this little excitement. He frowned, too, for his nature was impulsive, and he keenly sympathized with his friends. But at the same time more than once a ghost of a smile would chase across his jovial face. Evidently Pat O'Mara was thinking of the plans which he had been forming, and by means of which he hoped to influence the Armstrongs to leave this hateful community, where their worth was not appreciated. A short time later Bob gave Sandy a sly dig in the ribs, and made a quick motion with his head. Apparently the younger brother understood what was meant, for soon afterwards, when he thought he was unobserved, he slipped out of the cabin. Just as he expected, he found Bob awaiting him under the trees where bubbled up the spring which, winter and summer, supplied them with the clearest of water.