"Certainly, the last thing I thought of was finding myself in such a place as this. It seems as if I had been sent on purpose to save the child. Little Gustaf must be about her age. I am thankful I came in time to save her from a horrible death. She must be the child of my friend the smith, who was no more a smith than I am a general. I wish I could sleep; I shall be good for nothing to-morrow. I am beholden to him for the use of his watch." He took out his watch and wound it up, looking at the picture as he did so. It certainly was very much like Kitty. The storm seemed to be over. He made up the fire anew with knots and dry sticks, and lay down across the door in Indian fashion, so that nothing could enter. He was just dropping off to sleep when he started at some noise, and came broad awake again. He listened. It was repeated—a loud shout, and then, "Kitty! Kitty Elmer!" "They have come to look for the child," was his instant thought. He sprang to the door and shouted loudly. The answer came back from no great distance: "Where are you?" "This way—in the—" Caspar could not remember the word for clearing, so he shouted again. He heard the noise of approaching steps, and in a minute two or three men burst through the bushes and rushed up to the cabin. CHAPTER VII. _NEW FRIENDS AND NEW FOES._ "HERE is she? Where is the child?" asked two or three together. "In there, asleep," answered Caspar, pointing over his shoulder to where Kitty lay, unawakened by the noise. "Thank the Lord!" said one, a hard-featured, preternaturally solemn-looking man. "I never hoped to see her alive again. Are you sure she is living, and not dead?" "She is surely living unless she has died within half an hour," said Caspar. "And where did thee find her, friend?" asked the solemn man, after he had looked at Kitty and satisfied himself that she was indeed alive. "Some miles below here, on the bank of the river. She told me she had been out all night." "And why didn't you bring her right home, instead of camping down here?" asked one of the men who had spoken first, in a loud, harsh voice. "Because I was tired with carrying her and did not know my way; and besides, seeing that a storm was coming up, I judged it better not to leave a shelter I was sure of." "Yes, that is a likely story!" said the loud-voiced man. "I believe you meant to carry her off and sell her." "Joses Dandy, if it wasn't against Scripture, I would certainly call thee a fool," said the solemn man. "Why should the man have answered our shouts if he had wished to steal the child? And why should he be going up the river instead of down? Can thee answer me that?" Apparently, Joses Dandy could not, for he began on another tack. "And who are you, any way?" he asked, turning again to Caspar. "Never mind that now," said the other man. "We must fire our pieces to let our friends know the child is found."