“Well. Now tell me quick!” “Pull off your coat before it soaks through.” “I didn’t think of that,” said Joe, obeying with alacrity, and shivering in the cold air. “Now twist a stick into it, so you can carry it up to the house, without touching it with your hands, that is, if none of it got on ’em,” continued Sneak. “There ain’t a bit anywhere else but on the shoulder of my coat,” said Joe, acting according to Sneak’s instructions. Filling their buckets, they at length started towards the house, Joe holding a bucket in one hand, and a long pole, on which dangled his coat, in the other. When they entered, the company involuntarily started; and Glenn, losing all control over his temper, hurled a book at his man’s head, and commanded him not to venture in his presence again until he could by some means dispense with his horrid odor. “Foller me,” said Sneak, leading the way to the stable, and taking with him one of the spades he had brought in from the burial; “now,” he continued, when they were with the horses, “dig a hole at this end of the stall, and bury your coat. If you hadn’t took it in the house, like a dunce, they’d never ’ave known any thing about it.” “Oh, my goodness! I’m sick!” said Joe, urging the spade in the earth with his foot, and betraying unequivocal signs of indisposition. However, the garment was soon covered up, and the annoyance abated. But no sooner was Joe well out of this difficulty, than the dread of the tomahawk and scalping knife returned in greater force than ever. Boone remained taciturn, his clear, eagle-eye scanning the palisade, and the direction from which the savages would be most likely to come. Joe approached the renowned pioneer for the purpose of asking his opinion respecting the chances of escaping with life from the expected struggle, but was deterred by his serious and commanding glance. But soon a singular change came over his stern features, and as sudden as strange. His countenance assumed an air of triumph, and a half-formed smile played upon his lip. His meditations had doubtless resulted in the resolution to adopt some decisive course, which, in his opinion, would insure the safety of the little garrison. His brow had been watched by the inmates of the house, and, hailing the change with joy, they came forth to ascertain more certainly their fate. “How much powder have you, my young friend?” asked Boone. “Five kegs,” answered Glenn, promptly. “Then we are safe!” said Boone, in a pleasant and affable manner, which imparted confidence to the whole party. “I thought—I almost _knew_ that we were safe, with _you_ among us,” said Mary, playing with Boone’s hand. “But you must not venture out of the house as much as you did before, my lass, when arrows begin to fly,” replied Boone, kissing the maiden’s forehead. “But I’ll mould your bullets, and get supper for you,” said Mary. “That’s a good child,” said Roughgrove; “go in, now, and set about your task.”