"What, the Indian!" he exclaimed in utter amazement. "Yes, for Wawillaway. Did he not save my life? Yes, twice he has rescued me from a wild beast, first a panther, then a Wolf," she said with a shudder. "Aunt Nell, Aunt Nell, I so sleepy, I so tired," sobbed little Bertie, her three year old nephew and especial pet; "please sit down and take me in your lap." She had the child by the hand; the crowd was pushing them on; was between them and the rest of the family, and now separated her from Lyttleton. "Oh, here you are! come this way," the major said, appearing in an open doorway at the end of the hall; and snatching up Bertie, he hurried back into the large living room, Nell following. Tig had brought a great armful of buffalo robes, deer and bearskins, of which he was making a very comfortable couch in one corner, under the direction of his mistress. Clare soon had the children laid upon it, and snugly covered up with shawls. She then sat down beside them with her babe in her arms. "Can't you lie down too, Nell?" she said. "There's room enough, and you'd better sleep while you can." "That is not now," Nell answered with a sigh, "but I will sit down here beside Bertie." She seated herself on the farther side from Clare, where her face was in shadow, and little Bertie laid his head in her lap. She bent over him, softly stroking his hair and dropping silent tears upon it. She could not forget Wawillaway. The room; the house; was full of terrified women and children--many of the latter crying violently from discomfort and fright, while the tearful, trembling mothers vainly strove to soothe and comfort them. Mrs. Barbour, occupying a distant part of the same room with the Lamars, paid small attention to hers; being too much taken up with her own feelings, too busy bewailing her hard fate, somehow much more to be commiserated than that of any other person present, and now and then going off into a violent fit of hysterics. Mrs. Nash was there, quiet, patient, cheerful, doing the best to allay her sister-in-law's excitement and alarm, and that of her own and her brother's children; nor were her kind ministrations entirely confined to them; she contrived to speak words of hope and cheer to others also. The room was dimly lighted by a candle burning on a table which had been pushed into a corner to be out of the way of the numerous beds spread upon the floor. Mrs. Hedwig placed her two younger children under this table, bidding them "Go to shleep and nefer fear dose Inguns; your mutter vil pe right here and take care off you;" then getting possession of a chair, she sat down close beside them, drew the candle near her, snuffed it carefully, opened a bundle she had brought with her, and began sewing most industriously. "How can you, Mrs. Hedwig?" cried Mrs. Barbour: "you're the most cold-blooded creature I ever saw!"