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have done so for months。〃
〃Thank you very much；〃 she said。 〃Our things are drying already；
and I am as warm as a toast； but； indeed； you need not trouble
about us。 We brought these warm shawls with us on purpose for
night…work in the forest。 Now； I think we will try the contents of
the basket Dan has been carrying。〃
The basket； which was a good…sized one； was opened。 Chloe had
before starting put all the provisions in the house into it； and it
contained three loaves； five or six pounds of bacon； a canister of
tea and loaf…sugar； a small kettle； and two pint mugs； besides a
number of odds and ends。 The kettle Dan had； by Chloe's
direction； filled with water before leaving the river； and this was
soon placed among the glowing embers。
〃But you have brought no teapot； Chloe。〃
〃Dar was not no room for it； Miss Lucy。 We can make tea berry
well in do kettle。〃
〃So we can。 I forgot that。 We shall do capitally。〃
The kettle was not long in boiling。 Chloe produced some spoons
and knives and forks from the basket。
〃Spoons and forks are luxuries； Chloe；〃 Vincent said laughing。
〃We could have managed without them。〃
〃Yes； sah； but me not going to leave massa' s silver for dose
villains to find。〃
Lucy laughed。 〃At any rate； Chloe； we can turn the silver into
money if we run short。 Now the kettle is boiling。〃
It was taken off the fire； and Lucy poured some tea into it from the
canister； and then proceeded to cut up the bread。 A number of
slices of bacon had already been cut off； and a stick thrust through
them； and Dan； who was squatted at the other side of the fire
holding it over the flames； now pronounced them to be ready。 The
bread served as plates； and the party were soon engaged upon their
meal； laughing and talking over it as if it had been an ordinary
picnic in the woods； though at times Vincent's face contracted
from the sharp twitching of pain in his shoulder。 Vincent and Lucy
first drank their tea； and the mugs were then handed to Dan and
Chlce。
〃This is great fun；〃 Lucy said。 〃If it goes on like it all through our
journey we shall have no need to grumble。 Shall we Chloe？〃
〃If you don't grumble； Miss Lucy； you may be quite sure dat Chloe
will not。 But we hab not begun our journey at present； and I spec
dat we shall find it pretty hard work before we get to de end。 But
nebber mind dat； anyting is better dan being all by ourselves in dat
house。 Terrible sponsibility dat。〃
〃It was lonely；〃 the girl said； 〃and I am glad we are away from it
whatever happens。 What a day this has been。 Who could have
dreamed when I got up in the morning that all this would take
place before night。 It seems almost like a dream； and I can hardly
believe〃…and here she stopped with a little shiver as she thought of
the scene she had passed though with the band of bushwhackers。
〃I would not think anything at all about it；〃 Vincent said。 〃And
now I should recommend your turning in； and getting to sleep as
soon as you can。 We will be off at daybreak； and it is just twelve
o'clock now。〃
Five minutes later Lucy and her old nurse were snugly ensconced
in their little bower； while Vincent and Dan stretched themselves
at full length on the other side of the fire。 In spite of the pain in
his shoulder Vincent dozed off occasionally； butt he was heartily
glad when he saw the first gleam of light in the sky。 He woke ban。
〃Dan； do you take the kettle down to the river and fill it。 We had
better have some breakfast before we make our start。 If you can't
find your way back； whistle and I will answer you。〃
Dan； however； had no occasion to give the signal。 It took him
little more than five minutes to traverse the distance that had
occupied them half an hour in the thick darkness； and Vincent was
quite surprised when he reappeared again with the kettle。 Not
until it was boiling； and the bacon was ready； did Vincent raise his
voice and call Lucy and the nurse。
〃This is reversing the order of things altogether；〃 the girl said as
she came out and saw breakfast already prepared。 〃I shall not
allow it another time； I can tell you。〃
〃We are old campaigners； you see；〃 Vincent said； 〃and accustomed
to early movements。 Now please let us waste no time； as the
sooner we are off the better。〃
In a quarter of an hour breakfast was eaten and the basket packed；
and they were on their way。 Now the bright； glowing light in the
east was sufficient guide to them as to the direction they should
take； and setting their face to the south they started through the
forest。 In a quarter of an hour they came upon a little stream
running through the wood； and here Vincent suggested that Lucy
might like a wash； a suggestion which was gratefully accepted。 He
and Dan went a short distance down the streamlet； and Vincent
bathed his face and head。
〃Dan； I will get you to undo this bandage and get off my coat； then
I will make a pad of my handkerchief and dip it in the water and
you can lay it on my shoulder； and then help me on again with my
coat。 My arm is getting horribly painful。〃
Vincent's right arm was accordingly drawn through the sleeve and
the coat turned down so as to enable Dan to lay the wet pad on the
shoulder。
〃It has not bled much；〃 Vincent said； looking down at it。
〃No； sah； not much blood on de shirt。〃
〃Pull the coat down as far as the elbow； Dan； and bathe it for a
bit。〃
Using his cap as a baler； Dan bathed the arm for ten minutes； then
the wet pad was placed in position； and with some difficulty the
coat got on again。 The arm was then bandaged across the chest；
and they returned to the women； who were beginning to wonder at
the delay。
CHAPTEP XIIL LAID UP。
〃YOU MUST see a surgeon whatever the risk；〃 Lucy said when the
others joined them； for now that it was light she could se〃 by the
paleness of Vincent's face； and the drawn expression of the mouth；
how much he had suffered。
〃You have made so light of your wound that we have not thought
of it half as much as we ought to do； and you must have thought
me terribly heartless to be laughing and talking when you were in
such pain。 But it will never do to go on like this； it is quite
impossible for you to he traveling so far without having your
shoulder properly attended to。〃
〃I should certainly be glad to have it looked to；〃 Vincent replied。
〃I don't know whether the bullet's there or if it has made its way
out； and if that could be seen to； and some splints or something of
that sort put on to keep things in their right place； no doubt I
should be easier； hut I don't see how it is to he managed。 At any
rate； for the present we must go on； and I would much rather that
you said nothing about it。 There it is； and fretting over it won't do
it any good； while if you talk of other things I may forget it
sometimes。〃
In two hours they came upon the railw