Ruth's absence and the absence, too, of the three boys. But the death of the catamount, and the safety of all, quickly put a better face upon the situation.
Ruth was praised a good bit for her bravery. And Mr. Cameron said:
"There's something in that poor boy whom we tried to return to his friends—if the Hatfields are his friends. He does not lack courage, that is sure—courage of a certain kind, anyway. I must see to his business soon. I believe the Hatfields live within twenty miles of this place, and in a day or two I will ride over and see them."
"Oh! let us all go, father," urged Helen. "Can't we go in the sleighs we came over in from Scarboro?"
"Don't take them, sir," said Mrs. Murchiston. "I shan't feel safe for them again until we get out of these woods."
"Why, Mis' Murchiston," drawled Long Jerry, who had come into the hall with a great armful of wood, "there ain't a mite of danger now. That panther's killed—deader'n last Thanksgivin's turkey. There may not be another around here for half a score of years."
"But they say there are bears in the woods," cried the governess.
"Aw, shucks!" returned the woodsman. "What's a b'ar? B'ar's is us'ally as skeery as
