"Of course you *11 get some land/* said Jean.
"I Ve done axed de Cap'n 'bout it, an' he's looked up de law. He says I can't take up no Ian* 'cos I 'm nothin' but a niggah. De laws o' Oregon are ag'in it; so are de laws o' de gen'ral gov'ment. A free country's a great blessin' to women an' niggahs! It's a great blessin' to be bawn in a free country; ain't it, Geo' die Wah?"
The coon, who had grown and flourished under his six months' regimen of flapjacks and bacon, shook his bright brown curls and grinned, displaying an even set of polished ivories.
"I couldn't git married if I wanted to," added the negress, "'cos the law is sot ag'in mixed matches; but da'hs no law nowhar ag in coons "; and she ended her harangue with a characteristic "Yah! yah! yah!"
"Then, if you can't marry, you can always work for wages, Susannah; and you'll be better off than Mrs. McAlpin,"—she was coming to join the group,—" who is going to be married soon, if I can read the stars correctly," laughed Marjorie.
"No, Marjorie; I cannot even talk of marriage with the man whom God created for me, and me only. I am not even a grass widow. I cannot legally file upon a claim because I am the victim of a marriage I cannot honor. And the law cannot set me free because the party of the second part objects."
"What's that you were saying to the Ranger girls, Daphne? "asked Mrs. Benson, who had been engaged in assisting Captain Ranger and Mr. Burns to plan the two sets of log houses that were to be erected a mile apart, and to be so arranged as to form separate abodes for four families.
"Nothing, mamma, only I was bewailing my fate."
"Come with me. Daphne; I have something to show you," said Mrs. Benson, in a low tone.
"Listen to this letter," said the mother, as soon as they
