"Well, if I didn't see him to-day, it wasn't because I didn't stare with all the eyes I had. I never saw the woods behave so in all my life before. There a tree, just one tree, would fall to waving its limbs and shaking its leaves, making the liveliest flutter, and all the rest of the trees as still as mice when the cat's about. And there went smoke a-rolling up in puffs as big as feather beds, and not a sign of fire to show for it, that I could see. And there went fire a-shooting up in flames higher than my head, and not the sign of a stick of wood to show for it, that I could see. And here went shadows, skipping and dodging about, and not the sign of a living thing to do the skipping and dodging, that I could see. And there were voices all about me--some on this side, others on that; some close at my ear, and others far away--all talking the strangest gibberish, and not the sign of a living thing to do the talking, that I could see." "Weren't you terribly frightened, Ben?" "Well, at first I did feel queer--just a little queer, up and down the back and about the roots of my hair--but just as I had cocked my gun, and was looking about me for something to let fly at--plump! It was all gone as quick as the blowing out of a candle. Then I felt a little better, and after a short while a great deal better--real good and easy. I don't know why, but it's just so." Each time, after giving his answer, and while Sprigg would be pausing to consider it, Ben would fill up the interval with another wag-tail shake of the hand he still held in his own, thereby lengthening out his answer with something he had omitted to express in words. Now, after two or three of the supplementary shakes, he did bethink him to put the something else in words. "But, Sprigg, you are looking a great deal better than I expected to find you. Though I needn't wonder so much at that, either, for they wanted to feed you on trash--squirrels and birds, and I wouldn't let 'em. Tell us--me and Pow-wow--how you liked the buffalo we brought home for you yesterday?" "Oh, very much, I am sure." "And the fat, young bear we brought you the day before yesterday?" "Better still, I am certain." "And the fat, young buck we brought you the day before that?" "Best of all; and if I didn't tell you so at the time it was because I was asleep and thinking about something else. And now I am beginning to find out what my heart has been trying to tell me all this while. I see it in Bertha's face. I see it in Ben's face--in the face of every one here--how good and kind you have been to me since I have been lying here; and I so undeserving. I should be thankful you had kept me alive, were it but to tell you how I love you all as I have never loved any one before."