"I'll come back some day an' square up for what you've done," Joe cried, as he stepped down on to the sidewalk, and then he remembered that if matters were arranged as seemed necessary, he would soon be in prison. "Anyway, I'll come back as soon as I can," he added to himself, and kissing the tiny hand which the princess had wilfully placed over his mouth, he set forward, resolutely, on the journey, followed by the boy who claimed the right to dictate as to his future movements. During half an hour Joe walked steadily on towards aunt Dorcas's peaceful home, listening to the princess's childish prattle, and banishing all forebodings from his mind with the thought that the baby trusted and loved him. Then Dan, who had been walking a few paces in the rear, came to his side, appearing a trifle more friendly than when they first met. "At this rate you'll get back in time for dinner." "It seems as though I ought to, but it's kind of hard work carryin' the princess. Aunt Dorcas gave me the cakes so's we wouldn't need to hurry on the road, an'--where are they?" "Do you mean that little bunch of cakes you gave me?" "Little bunch! Why, there was a stack of 'em!" "It don't make any difference how many there was, 'cause I ate the whole lot." Joe looked at the amateur detective as if about to make an angry reply; but checked himself, and Dan said, defiantly: "The time's gone by when you can put on airs with me, Joe Potter. I ain't goin' to starve to death when there's anything 'round I can eat." "No, you'd rather let a little baby like this one go hungry. I wouldn't have touched the cakes any sooner'n I'd cut my finger off, 'cause they was for her." "You make me tired with your bloomin' princess. She's stuffed jest about as full as she can hold, an' I'm the same as starved." Joe did not so much as look at the selfish boy, but walked more rapidly than before until fully one-half the distance from Mrs. Weber's to aunt Dorcas's had been traversed. Light though the burden was, his arms ached from long carrying the child, and it seemed absolutely necessary to come to a halt. The princess was more than willing to take advantage of the opportunity to search for flowers or wintergreen plums by the roadside, and Joe stretched himself out at full length on the cool grass, keeping jealous watch all the while over the happy little girl. Dan seated himself near by, having once more assumed an air of injured innocence, and Master Potter could not longer delay having an understanding with this boy, who was bent on claiming even more than his right. "So you're bound on goin' straight to aunt Dorcas's with me?" he said, after a brief pause. "It's got to be that, or jail." "I don't see why; there are other places 'round here besides hers." "Yes; but I ain't sure of gettin' into 'em for nothin'. When you strike a house where Plums is so contented, it must be a pretty soft snap."