CHAPTER III.
THE DARK CLOUD BURSTS.
"Are you certain?" asked Haverland, with a painful eagerness.
"As sure as I live!"
"How? when? where did you see them? Pray, answer quick, for I feel that the lives of precious ones stand in peril."
"The facts are few—they are. When I went down to the spring, I seed them pesky varmints thar, and I knowed they war waitin' for your little booty, 'cause if they wa'n't, they'd have walloped me thunderin' soon. I seed 'em sneaking 'round, and purtended as though I didn't 'spicion nothin'. They've found I's about, and have gone down for more help. They'll be back here to-night with a whole pack. Fact, by gracious!"
"You speak truly; and, as matters stand thus, it is time for action."
"Exactly so; and what is it you propose to dew?"
"As you have afforded me. such signal aid thus far, I must again ask you for advice."
"Pshaw! don't you know what to dew, man?"
"I have a plan, but I would hear yours first."
"Wal, I can give it purty soon. You know well enough you're in tight quarters, and the best thing you can do is to git away from here, a leetle quicker nor no time. You know the settlements ain't more nor twenty miles off, and you'd better pack up and be off, and lose no time, neither."
"That was my plan, exactly. But hold! we must go by water, and will it not be best to wait and go by night, when we will have the darkness to protect us? We have just learned that the river contains enough enemies to frustrate our designs should they be known. Yes, we must wait till night."
"You're right there: and, as there is no moon, we'll have
