CONTENTS。
THEHERITAGEOFDEDLOWMARSH
AKNIGHT—ERRANTOFTHEFOOT—HILLS
ASECRETOFTELEGRAPHHILL
CAPTAINJIM’SFRIEND
THEHERITAGEOFDEDLOWMARSH。
I。
ThesunwasgoingdownontheDedlowMarshes。Thetidewasfollowingitfastasiftomeetthereddeninglinesofskyandwaterinthewest，leavingtheforegroundtogrowblackerandblackereverymoment，andtobringoutinstartlingcontrastthefewhalf—filledandhalf—litpoolsleftbehindandforgotten。ThestrongbreathofthePacificfanningtheirsurfacesattimeskindledthemintoadullglowlikedyingembers。Acloudofsand—
pipersrosewhitefromoneofthenearerlagoons，sweptinalongeddyingringagainstthesunset，andbecameablackanddroppingraintoseaward。Thelongsinuouslineofchannel，fadingwiththelightandebbingwiththetide，begantogiveoffhereandtherelightpuffsofgray—wingedbirdslikesuddenexhalations。Highinthedarkeningskythelongarrow—headedlinesofgeeseand’brant’
pointedtowardstheupland。Asthelightgrewmoreuncertaintheairattimeswasfilledwiththerushofviewlessandmelancholywings，orbecameplaintivewithfar—offcriesandlamentations。AstheMarshesgrewblackerthefar—scatteredtussocksandaccretionsonitslevelsurfacebegantoloominexaggeratedoutline，andtwohumanfigures，suddenlyemergingerectonthebankofthehiddenchannel，assumedtheproportionofgiants。
Whentheyhadmooredtheirunseenboat，theystillappearedforsomemomentstobemovingvaguelyandaimlesslyroundthespotwheretheyhaddisembarked。Butastheeyebecamefamiliarwiththedarknessitwasseenthattheywerereallyadvancinginland，yetwithaslownessofprogressionanddeviousnessofcoursethatappearedinexplicabletothedistantspectator。Presentlyitwasevidentthatthisseeminglyeven，vast，blackexpansewastraversedandintersectedbyinkycreeksandsmallchannels，whichmadehumanprogressiondifficultanddangerous。Astheyappearednearerandtheirfigurestookmorenaturalproportions，itcouldbeseenthateachcarriedagun;thatonewasayounggirl，althoughdressedsolikehercompanioninshaggypea—jacketandsou’westerastobescarcelydistinguishedfromhimabovetheshortskirtthatcamehalfwaydownherhighindia—rubberfishing—boots。Bythetimetheyhadreachedfirmerground，andturnedtolookbackatthesunset，itcouldbealsoseenthatthelikenessbetweentheirfaceswasremarkable。Both，hadcrisp，black，tightlycurlinghair;bothhaddarkeyesandheavyeyebrows;bothhadquickvividcomplexions，slightlyheightenedbytheseaandwind。Butmorestrikingthantheirsimilarityofcoloringwasthelikenessofexpressionandbearing。Bothworethesameairofpicturesqueenergy;bothborethemselveswithalikegracefuleffronteryandself—possession。
Theyoungmancontinuedhisway。Theyounggirllingeredforamomentlookingseaward，withhersmallbrownhandliftedtoshadehereyes，——aprecautionwhichherheavyeyebrowsandlonglashesseemedtorenderutterlygratuitous。
\"Comealong，Mag。Whatareyewaitin’for？\"saidtheyoungmanimpatiently。
\"Nothin’。Lookin’atthatboatfromtheFort。\"Hercleareyeswerewatchingasmallskiff，invisibletolesskeen—sightedobservers，agrounduponaflatnearthemouthofthechannel。
\"Themchapswillhaveahigholetimegunnin’thar，stuckinthemud，andthetidegoin’outlikesixty！\"
\"Neveryoumindthesodgers，\"returnedhercompanion，aggressively，\"theykintakecareo’theirownpreciousskins，orUncleSamwilldoitfor’em，Ireckon。Anyhowthepeople——that’syouandme，Mag——isexpectedtopayfortheirfoolishness。That’swhatthey’resentyerfor。Yeoughtertobesatisfiedwiththat，\"headdedwithdeepsarcasm。
\"Ireckontheyain’texpectedtodomuchoffo’dryland，andtheycan’thelpbein’queeronthewater，\"returnedtheyounggirlwithareflectingsenseofjustice。
\"Thentheyain’tnocalltogogunnin’，andwastin’Guv’nmentpowderonducksinsteado’Injins。\"
\"Thet’sso，\"saidthegirlthoughtfully。\"WonderefGuv’nmentpaysforthemfrockstheKernel’sgirlswentcavortin’roundLogportinlastSunday——theylookedlikeacirkis。\"
\"LikeeznottheoldKernelgetsitoutercontracts——onewayoranother。WEpayforitallthesame，\"headdedgloomily。
\"JestthesameeziftheywereMYclothes，\"saidthegirl，withaquick，fiery，littlelaugh，\"ain’tit？Wonderhowthey’dlikemysayin’thatto’emwhentheywasprancin’round，eh，Jim？\"
Buthercompanionwasevidentlyunpreparedforthissweepingfemininededuction，andstoppeditwithmasculinepromptitude。
\"Lookyer——insteado’botherin’yourheadaboutwhattheFortgirlswear，you’dbettertrotalongalittlemorelively。It’slateenoughnow。\"
\"Butthesedarnedbootshurtlikepizen，\"saidthegirl，limping。
\"Theyswallowedaloto’wateroverthetopswhileIwaswadin’
downthere，andmyfeetgoswashin’aroundlikeinachurneverystep。\"
\"Leanonme，baby，\"hereturned，passinghisarmaroundherwaist，anddroppingherheadsmartlyonhisshoulder。\"Thar！\"Theactwasbrotherlyandslightlycontemptuous，butitwassufficienttoatonceestablishtheirkinship。
Theycontinuedonthusforsomemomentsinsilence，thegirl，I
fear，afterthefashionofhersex，takingthefullestadvantageofthisslightlysentimentalandcaressingattitude。TheyweremovingnowalongtheedgeoftheMarsh，parallelwiththelineofrapidlyfadinghorizon，followingsometrailonlyknowntotheirkeenyouthfuleyes。Itwasgrowingdarkeranddarker。Thecriesofthesea—birdshadceased;eventhecallofabelatedploverhaddiedawayinland;thehushofdeathlayovertheblackfunerealpallofmarshattheirside。Thetidehadrunoutwiththeday。Eventhesea—breezehadlulledinthisdeadslack—waterofallnature，asifwaitingoutsidethebarwiththeocean，thestars，andthenight。
Suddenlythegirlstoppedandhaltedhercompanion。Thefaintfarsoundofabuglebrokethesilence，iftheideaofinterruptioncouldhavebeenconveyedbythetwoorthreeexquisitevibrationsthatseemedbornofthatsilenceitself，andtofadeanddieinitwithoutbreakordiscord。Yetitwasonlythe’retreat’callfromtheForttwomilesdistantandinvisible。
Theyounggirl’sfacehadbecomeirradiated，andhersmallmouthhalfopenedasshelistened。\"Doyouknow，Jim，\"shesaidwithaconfidentialsigh，\"IallusputwordstothatwhenIhearit——it’ssopow’fulpretty。Itallusgoestomelikethis：’Goestheday，Faraway，Withthelight，AndthenightComesalong——Comesalong——
Comesalong——Likea—aso—o—ong。’\"Shehereliftedhervoice，asweet，fresh，boyishcontralto，insuchanadmirableimitationofthebuglethatherbrother，afterthefashionofmoreselectauditors，wasforamomentquiteconvincedthatthewordsmeantsomething。Nevertheless，asabrother，itwashisdutytocrushthisweakness。\"Yes;anditsays：’shutyourhead，Gotobed，’\"hereturnedirascibly;\"andYOU’Dbettercomealong，ifwe’regoin’tohevanysupper。There’sYellerBobhezgotaheadofusovertherewiththegamealready。\"
Thegirlglancedtowardsaslouchingburdenedfigurethatnowappearedtobeprecedingthem，straightenedherselfsuddenly，andthenlookedattentivelytowardstheMarsh。
\"Notthesodgersagain？\"saidherbrotherimpatiently。
\"No，\"shesaidquickly;\"butifthatdon’tbeatanythin’！I’dhevsworn，Jim，thatYellerBobwassomewherebehindus。Isawhimonlyjestnowwhen’Taps’sounded，somewhereoverthar。\"Shepointedwithahalf—uneasyexpressioninquiteanotherdirectionfromthatinwhichtheslouchingYellowBobhadjustloomed。
\"Tellyewhat，Mag，makin’poetryouterbuglecallshezkindermuddledye。THAT’SYellerBobahead，andyeorterknowInjinswellenuffbythistimetorememberthattheyalluscropupjestwhenyedon’texpectthem。Andthere’sthebreshjestaforeus。Come！\"
The’bresh，’orlowbushes，wasreallyalineofstuntedwillowsandaldersthatseemedtohavegraduallysunkintotheleveloftheplain，butincreasedinsizefartherinland，untiltheygrewtotheheightanddensityofawood。SeenfromthechannelithadtheappearanceofagreencapeorpromontorythrustupontheMarsh。
Passingthroughitstangledrecesses，withtheaidofsomeunerringinstinct，thetwocompanionsemergeduponanotherandmuchlargerlevelthatseemedasillimitableasthebay。Thestrongbreathoftheoceanlyingjustbeyondthebarandestuarytheywerenowfacingcametothemsaltandhumidasanothertide。Thenearerexpanseofopenwaterreflectedtheafter—glow，andlightenedthelandscape。Andbetweenthetwowayfarersandthehorizonrose，bleakandstartling，thestrangeoutlinesoftheirhome。
Atfirstitseemedaruinedcolonnadeofmanypillars，whosebaseandpedimentwereburiedintheearth，supportingalongparallelogramofentablatureandcornices。Butasecondglanceshowedittobeaone—storiedbuilding，upheldabovetheMarshbynumberlesspilesplacedatregulardistances;someofthemsunkenorinclinedfromtheperpendicular，increasingthefirstillusion。
Betweenthesepillars，whichpermittedafreecirculationofair，and，atextraordinarytides，eventhewatersofthebayitself，thelevelwasteofmarsh，thebay，thesurgesofthebar，andfinallytheredhorizonline，weredistinctlyvisible。Arailedgalleryorplatform，supportedalsoonpiles，andreachedbystepsfromtheMarsh，ranaroundthebuilding，andgaveaccesstotheseveralroomsandoffices。
Butiftheappearanceofthislacustrineandamphibiousdwellingwasstriking，andnotwithoutacertainrudeandmassivegrandeur，itsgroundsandpossessions，throughwhichthebrotherandsisterwerestillpickingtheirway，wereevenmoregrotesqueandremarkable。Overaspaceofhalfadozenacrestheflotsamandjetsamofyearsoftidalofferingswerecollected，andevenguardedwithacertaincare。Theblackenedhulksofhugeuprootedtrees，scarcelydistinguishablefromthefragmentsofgenuinewrecksbesidethem，weresecurelyfastenedbychainstostakesandpilesdriveninthemarsh，whileheapsofbrokenanddisjointedbambooorangecrates，heldtogetherbyropesoffibre，glistenedlikeligamentedbonesheapedinthedeadvalley。Masts，spars，fragmentsofshell—encrustedboats，binnacles，round—housesandgalleys，andpartoftheafter—deckofacoastingschooner，hadceasedtheirwanderingsandfoundrestinthisvastcemeteryofthesea。Thelegendonawheel—house，theletteringonasternorbow，servedformortuaryinscription。Wailedoverbythetradewinds，mournedbylamentingsea—birds，onceeveryyearthetidevisiteditslostdeadandleftthemwetwithitstears。
Tosuchaspotanditssurroundingstheatmosphereoftraditionandmysterywasnotwanting。SixyearsagoBooneCulpepperhadbuiltthehouse，andbroughttoithiswife——variouslybelievedtobeagypsy，aMexican，abrightmulatto，aDiggerIndian，aSouthSeaprincessfromTahiti，somebodyelse’swife——butinrealityalittleCreolewomanfromNewOrleans，withwhomhehadcontractedamarriage，withothergamblingdebts，duringawinter’svacationfromhishomeinVirginia。Attheendoftwoyearsshehaddied，succumbing，asdifferentlystated，fromperpetualwetfeet，orthemisanthropicidiosyncrasiesofherhusband，andleavingbehindheragirloftwelveandaboyofsixteentoconsolehim。HowfutilewasthisbequestmaybeguessedfromabriefsummaryofMr。
Culpepper’speculiarities。Theywerethedevelopmentofasingularformofaggrandizementandmisanthropy。OnhisarrivalatLogporthehadboughtapartoftheapparentlyvaluelessDedlowMarshfromtheGovernmentatlessthanadollaranacre，continuinghissingularinvestmentyearbyyearuntilhewastheownerofthreeleaguesofamphibiousdomain。ItwasthendiscoveredthatthispropertycarriedwithittheWATERFRONTofdiversvaluableandconvenientsitesformanufacturesandthecommercialportsofanoblebay，aswellasthenaturalembarcaderosofsome’lumbering’
inlandsettlements。BooneCulpepperwouldnotsell。BooneCulpepperwouldnotrentorlease。BooneCulpepperheldaninvincibleblockadeofhisneighbors，andtheprogressandimprovementhedespised——grantingonly，afteraroyalfashion，occasionallicense，revocableatpleasure，intheshapeoftolls，whichamplysupportedhim，withthegameheshotinhiskingfisher’seyrieontheMarsh。EventheGovernmentthathadmadehimpowerfulwasobligedto’condemn’apartofhispropertyatanequitablepriceforthepurposesofFortRedwood，inwhichtheadjacenttownofLogportshared。AndBooneCulpepper，unabletoresisttheact，refusedtoreceivethecompensationorquit—claimthetown。Inhisscantintercoursewithhisneighborshealwaysalludedtoitashisown，showedittohischildrenaspartoftheirstrangeinheritance，andexhibitedthestarryflagthatfloatedfromtheFortasaflauntinginsulttotheiryouthfuleyes。
Hated，feared，andsuperstitiouslyshunnedbysome，regardedasamadmanbyothers，familiarlyknownas’TheKingfisherofDedlow，’
BooneCulpepperwasonedayfoundfloatingdeadinhisskiff，withachargeofshotthroughhisheadandshoulders。Theshot—gunlyingathisfeetatthebottomoftheboatindicatedthe’accident’asrecordedintheverdictofthecoroner’sjury——butnotbythepeople。Athousandrumorsofmurderorsuicideprevailed，butalwayswiththeuniversalrider，’Servedhimright。’
Soinvinciblewasthisfeelingthatbutfewattendedhislastrites，whichtookplaceathighwater。Thedelayoftheofficiatingclergymanlostthetide;thehomelycatafalque——hisownboat——wasleftagroundontheMarsh，anddesertedbyallmournersexceptthetwochildren。Whateverhehadinstilledintothembypreceptandexample，whatevertookplacethatnightintheirlonelywatchbyhisbierontheblackmarshes，itwascertainthatthosewhoconfidentlylookedforanychangeintheadministrationoftheDedlowMarshwerecruellymistaken。TheoldKingfisherwasdead，buthehadleftinthenesttwoyoungbirds，morebeautifulandgraceful，itwastrue，yetasfierceandtenaciousofbeakandtalon。
II。
Arrivingatthehouse，theyoungpeopleascendedtheouterflightofwoodensteps，whichboreanoddlikenesstothecompanion—wayofavessel，andthegallery，or’deck，’asitwascalled——whereanumberofnets，floats，andbuoysthrownovertherailingcompletedthenauticalresemblance。Thispartofthebuildingwasevidentlydevotedtokitchen，dining—room，anddomesticoffices;theprincipalroominthecentreservingashallorliving—room，andcommunicatingontheothersidewithtwosleepingapartments。Itwasofconsiderablesize，withheavylateralbeamsacrosstheceiling——built，liketherestofthehouse，withacertainmaritimestrength——andlookednotunlikeasalooncabin。AnenormousopenFranklinstovebetweenthewindows，aslargeasachimney，blazingwithdrift—wood，gavelightandheattotheapartment，andbroughtintoflickeringrelieftheboardedwallshungwiththespoilsofseaandshore，andglitteringwithgun—barrels。Fowling—piecesofallsizes，fromthelongducking—gunmountedonaswivelforboatusetothelightsingle—barrelorcarbine，stoodinracksagainstthewalls;game—bags，revolversintheirholsters，huntingandfishingknivesintheirsheaths，dependedfromhooksabovethem。
Inonecornerstoodaharpoon;inanother，twoorthreeIndianspearsforsalmon。Thecarpetlessfloorandrudechairsandsettleswerecoveredwithotter，mink，beaver，andaquantityofvaluableseal—skins，withafewlargerpeltsofthebearandelk。
Theonlyattemptatdecorationwasthedisplayedwingsandbreastsofthewoodandharlequinduck，themuir，thecormorant，thegull，thegannet，andthefemininelydelicatehalf—mourningofpetrelandplover，nailedagainstthewall。Theinfluenceoftheseawasdominantaboveall，andasserteditssalineodorseventhroughthespiceofthecurlingdrift—woodsmokethathalfveiledtheceiling。
Aberry—eyedoldIndianwomanwiththecomplexionofdriedsalmon;
herdaughter，alsowithberryeyes，andwithafacethatseemedwhollymadeofamoistlaugh;’YellowBob，’aDigger’buck，’socalledfromtheprevailingochremarkingsofhischeek，and’Washooh，’anex—chief;anondescriptinablanket，lookinglikeacheapanddirtydollwhosefibroushairwasbadlynailedonhiscarvedwoodenhead，composedtheCulpepperhousehold。Whilethetwoformerwerepreparingsupperintheadjacentdining—room，YellowBob，relievedofhisburdenofgame，appearedonthegalleryandbeckonedmysteriouslytohismasterthroughthewindow。JamesCulpepperwentout，returnedquickly，andafteraminute’shesitationandanuneasyglancetowardshissister，whohadmeantimepushedbackhersou’westerfromherforehead，andwithouttakingoffherjackethaddroppedintoachairbeforethefirewithherbacktowardshim，tookhisgunnoiselesslyfromtherack，andsayingcarelesslythathewouldbebackinamoment，disappeared。
Lefttoherself，Maggiecoollypulledoffherlongbootsandstockings，andcomfortablyopposedtothefiretwoveryprettyfeetandankles，whosedelicatepuritywasslightlyblue—bleachedbyconfinementinthetepidsea—water。Thecontrastoftheirwaxenwhitenesswithherbluewoolenskirt，andwitheventheskinofhersunburnthandsandwrists，apparentlyamusedher，andshesatforsomemomentswithherelbowsonherknees，herskirtsslightlyraised，contemplatingthem，andcurlinghertoeswithevidentsatisfaction。Thefirelightplayingupontherichcoloringofherface，thefringeofjet—blackcurlsthatalmostmetthethicksweepofeyebrows，andleftheronlyawhitestripofforehead，hershortupperlipandsmallchin，roundedbutresolute，completedapiquantandstrikingfigure。Therichbrownshadowsonthesmoke—stainedwallsandceiling，theoccasionalstartingintoreliefofthescutcheonsofbrilliantplumage，andthemomentaryglitterofthesteelbarrels，madeaquaintbackgroundtothischarmingpicture。
Sittingthere，andfollowingsomelingeringmemoryofhertrampontheMarsh，shehummedtoherselfafewnotesofthebuglecallthathadimpressedher——atfirstsoftly，andfinallywiththefullpitchofhervoice。
Suddenlyshestopped。
Therewasafaintandunmistakablerappingonthefloorbeneathher。Itwasdistinct，butcautiouslygiven，asifintendedtobeaudibletoheralone。Foramomentshestoodupright，herfeetstillbareandglistening，ontheotterskinthatservedasarug。
Thereweretwodoorstotheroom，onefromwhichherbrotherhaddisappeared，whichledtothesteps，theothergivingonthebackgallery，lookinginland。Withaquickinstinctshecaughtuphergunandrantothatone，butnotbeforearapidscrambleneartherailingwasfollowedbyacautiousopeningofthedoor。Shewasjustintimetoshutitontheextendedarmandlightbluesleeveofanarmyovercoatthatprotrudedthroughtheopening，andforamomentthrewherwholeweightagainstit。
\"Adhropofwhiskey，Miss，fortheloveofGod。\"
Sheretainedherhold，cockedherweapon，andsteppedbackapacefromthedoor。Thebluesleevewasfollowedbytherestoftheovercoat，andabluecapwiththeinfantryblazoning，andtheletterHonitspeak。Theywereforthemomentmoredistinguishablethanthemanbeneaththem——grimedandblackenedwiththeslimeoftheMarsh。Butwhatcouldbeseenofhismud—
stainedfacewasmoregrotesquethanterrifying。Acombinationofweaknessandaudacity，insinuationandtimiditystruggledthroughthedirtforexpression。Hissmallblueeyeswerenotill—natured，andeventheintrudingarmtrembledmorefromexhaustionthanpassion。
\"On’yadhrop，Miss，\"herepeatedpiteously，\"andavyepleeze，quick！aforeI’mstharvedwiththecoldentoirely。\"
Shelookedathimintently——withoutloweringhergun。
\"Whoareyou？\"
\"Thin，it’sthetruthI’lltellye，Miss——whisththen！\"hesaidinahalf—whisper;\"I’madesarter！\"
\"ThenitwasYOUthatwasdoggin’usontheMarsh？\"
\"ItwasthesarjintIwaslavin’，Miss。\"
Shelookedathimhesitatingly。
\"Stayoutsidethere;ifyoumoveastepintotheroom，I’llblowyououtofit。\"
Hesteppedbackonthegallery。Sheclosedthedoor，boltedit，andstillholdingthegun，openedacupboard，pouredoutaglassofwhiskey，andreturningtothedoor，openeditandhandedhimtheliquor。
Shewatchedhimdrainiteagerly，sawthefierystimulantputlifeintohisshiveringframe，tremblinghands，andkindlehisdulleye——
and——quietlyraisedhergunagain。
\"Ah，putitdown，Miss，putitdown！Fwhot’stheuse？Surethebulletsyeecarryinthemoiyesofyoursismoredeadly！It’southereoi’llsthand，glorybetoGod，allnight，withoutmovin’afuttillthesarjintcomestotakeme，avyewon’tlevilthemoiyesatmelikethat。Ah，whirra！lookatthatnow！butit’sagooddesssheis——thelivin’Jaynusofwarr，standin’therelikeastatoo，widheralybasterfutputforward。\"
Inherprideandconscioussuperiority，anysuggestionofshameatthusappearingbeforeacommonmanandamendicantwasasimpossibletohernatureasitwouldhavebeentoaqueenorthegoddessofhissimile。Hispresenceandhiscomplimentalikepassedhercalmmodestyunchallenged。Thewretchedscamprecognizedthefactandfeltitspower，anditwaswithasuperstitiousreverenceassertingitselfthroughhisnativeextravagancethatheraisedhisgrimyhandtohiscapinmilitarysaluteandbecamerespectfullyrigid。
\"Thenthesodgerswerehuntin’YOU？\"shesaidthoughtfully，loweringherweapon。
\"Thrueforyou，Miss——theyworr，andit’smeselfthatwaslyin’
flatintheditchwidmefayturesmakin’anilligantcastinthemud——morebetoken，asyeseeevennow——andthesarjintandhisdaytailthrampin’roundme。Itwasthinthatthemortialcoldsthruckthro’memouth，andmademewakeforthewhiskeythatwouldresthoreme。\"
\"Whatdidyoudesertfer？\"
\"Ah，listtothatnow！FwhatdidIdesartfer？Shureevtherewastheghostofaninemyround，it’smeselfthatwouldbeinthefrontnow！Butitwastheletthersfrommeouldmother，Miss，thatissthruckwidamortialillness——longlifetoher！——inCountyClare，andmesisthersinNinthAvenueinNewYork，fornintthedaypo，thatisbrekkentheirharrutsovermelistin’intheFourthInfanthrytododutyinahaythenwilderness。Avitwasthecavalry——andit’smeownfatherthatwasintheInnishkillenDthragoons，Miss——oiwouldn’tmoind。Widahorsebetunemelegs，it’sonparadeoi’dbenow，Miss，andnotwandheringoverthebareflureoftheMarsh，stharvedwidthecold，thethirst，andhunger，widthemudandthemoirethickonme;facin’anilligantyoungleddyasistheekalovaFayldMarshal’sdarter——nottosphakeovKernalPreston’s——ezcouldn’tholdacandletoher。\"
BroughtupontheSpanishfrontier，MaggieCulpepperwasoneofthefewAmericangirlswhowasnotfamiliarwiththeIrishrace。Theraresmilethatmomentarilylitupherpetulantmouthseemedtojustifytheintruder’spraise。Butitpassedquickly，andshereturneddryly：
\"Thatmeansyouwantmoredrink，suthin’toeat，andclothes。
Supposemybrothercomesbackandketchesyouhere？\"
\"Shure，Miss，he’sjustnowhuntenme，alongwidhistwohaythenDiggers，beyondthelaygoonthere。Itworrtheyellaronethatsphottedmelyin’thereintheditch;itworronlyyourownoiyes，Miss——morepowertotheirbeautyforthat！——thatsawmefollyhimunbeknownsthere;andthatdesavedthem，yesee！\"
Theyounggirlremainedforaninstantsilentandthoughtful。
\"We’renofriendsoftheFort，\"shesaidfinally，\"butIdon’treckonforthatreasonmybrotherwillcottontoYOU。Stayouttharwhereyeare，tillIcometoye。Ifyouhearmesingin’
again，you’llknowhe’scomeback，andye’dbetterscootwithwhatyou’vealreadygot，andbethankful。\"
Sheshutthedooragainandlockedit，wentintothedining—room，returnedwithsomeprovisionswrappedinpaper，tookacommonwickerflaskfromthewall，passedintoherbrother’sbedroom，andcameoutwithaflannelshirt，overalls，andacoarseIndianblanket，and，reopeningthedoor，placedthembeforetheastonishedanddelightedvagabond。Hiseyeglistened;hebegan，\"GlorybetoGod，\"butforoncehishabitualextravagancefailedhim。Naturetriumphedwithamoreeloquentsilenceoverhiswell—wornart。Hehurriedlywipedhisbegrimedfaceandeyeswiththeshirtshehadgivenhim，andcatchingthesleeveofherroughpea—jacketinhisdirtyhand，raisedittohislips。
\"Go！\"shesaidimperiously。\"Getawaywhileyoucan。\"
\"Avitvasmelastwords——it’sspeechlessoiam，\"hestammered，anddisappearedovertherailing。
Sheremainedforamomentholdingthedoorhalfopen，andgazingintothedarknessthatseemedtoflowinlikeatide。Thensheshutit，andgoingintoherbedroomresumedherinterruptedtoilette。Whensheemergedagainshewassmartlystockingedandslippered，andeventhebluesergeskirtwasexchangedforabrightprint，withawhitefichutiedaroundherthroat。AnattempttosubdueherrebelliouscurlshadresultedintheconstructionfromtheirruinsofalowNormanarchacrossherforeheadwithpillaredabutmentsofringlets。Whenherbrotherreturnedafewmomentslatershedidnotlookup，butremained，perhapsalittleostentatiously，bendingoverthefire。
\"BoballowedthattheFortboatwashuntin’MEN——deserters，I
reckon，\"saidJimaggrievedly。\"WantedmetobelievethatheSAW
oneontheMarshhidin’。On’yanInjinlie，Ireckon，togitalittleextrafire—water，fortotingmeouttothebreshonafool’serrand。\"
\"Oh，THAT’Swhereyouwent！\"saidMaggie，addressingthefire。
\"SincewhenhevyoutukpartnershipwiththeGuv’nmentandKernelPrestontohuntupandtakekeeroftheirproperty？\"
\"Well，Iain’tgoin’tohevsuchwreckageastheypickupandenlistsetadriftonourmarshes，Mag，\"saidJimdecidedly。
\"Whatwouldyouhevdonehadyouketchedhim？\"saidMaggie，lookingsuddenlyintoherbrother’sface。
\"Givenhimadoseofsnipe—shotthathe’dremember，andbethankfulitwasn’tslugs，\"saidJimpromptly。Observingadeeperseriousnessinherattitude，headded，\"Why，ifitwasinwar—timehe’dgetaBALLfromthemsodgersonsight。\"
\"Yes;butYOUain’tgotnocalltointerfere，\"saidMaggie。
\"Ain’tI？Why，he’snobetterthananoutlaw。Iain’tsurethathehasn’tbeenstealin’orkillin’somebodyovertheer。\"
\"Notthatman！\"saidMaggieimpulsively。
\"Notwhatman？\"saidherbrother，facingherquickly。
\"Why，\"returnedMaggie，repairingherindiscretionwithfemininedexterity，\"notANYmanwhomighthaveknockedyouandmeoveronthemarshesinthedusk，andgrabbedourguns。\"
\"Wishhe’dhevtriedit，\"saidthebrother，withasuperiorsmile，butaquicklyrisingcolor。\"Whered’yesupposeI’Dhevbeenallthewhile？\"
Maggiesawhermistake，andforthefirsttimeinherliferesolvedtokeepasecretfromherbrother——overnight。\"Supper’sgettin’
cold，\"shesaid，rising。
Theywentintothedining—room——anapartmentasplainlyfurnishedastheonetheyhadquitted，butinitsshelves，cupboards，andcloselyfittingboardingbearingoutthegeneralnauticalsuggestionofthehouse——andseatedthemselvesbeforeasmalltableonwhichtheirfrugalmealwasspread。Inthistete—a—tetepositionJimsuddenlylaiddownhisknifeandforkandstaredathissister。
\"Hello！\"
\"What’sthematter？\"saidMaggie，startingslightly。\"Howyoudoskeerone。\"
\"Who’sbeenprinkin’，eh？\"
\"Myha’rwasinkinksallalongo’thathat，\"saidMaggie，withareturnofhighercolor，\"andIhadtostraightenit。It’saboy’shat，notagirl’s。\"
Butthatnecktieandthatgown——andallthosefrillsandtuckers？\"
continuedJimgeneralizing，witharapidtwirlingofhisfingersoverher。\"Areyouexpectin’JudgeMartin，ortheExpressmanthisevening？\"
JudgeMartinwasthelawyerofLogport，whohadprovenherfather’swill，andhadsinceravedabouthissingleinterviewwiththeKingfisher’sbeautifuldaughter;theExpressmanwasayoungfellowwhowaspopularlysupposedtohavelefthisheartwhiledeliveringanothervaluablepackageonMaggieinperson，andhad\"neverbeenthesamemansince。\"Itwasawell—wornfraternalpleasantrythathaddonedutymanyawinter’sevening，asahappycombinationofmoraladmonitionandcheerfulness。Maggieusuallypaiditthetributeofaquicklittlelaughandasisterlypinch，butthateveningthosemarksofapprobationwerewithheld。
\"Jimdear，\"saidshe，whentheirSpartanrepastwasconcludedandtheywerereestablishedbeforetheliving—roomfire。\"WhatwasittheRedwoodMillKempanyofferedyouforthatpiecenearDeadMan’sSlough？\"
Jimtookhispipefromhislipslongenoughtosay，\"Tenthousanddollars，\"andputitbackagain。
\"Andwhatdoyekalkilateallourproperty，lettingalonethisyerhouse，andthedriftwoodfront，isworthalltogether？\"
\"Includin’wottheGov’nmentowesus？——forthat’sallours，yeknow？\"saidJimquickly。
\"No——leavin’thatout——jestforgreens，youknow，\"suggestedMaggie。
\"Wellnighonterahundredandseventy—fivethousanddollars，I
reckon，byandlarge。\"
\"That’saheapo’money，Jim！IreckonoldKernelPrestonwouldn’traisethatinahundredyears，\"continuedMaggie，warmingherkneesbythefire。
\"Infivemillionyears，\"saidJim，promptlysweepingawayfurtherdiscussion。Afterapauseheadded，\"Youandme，Mag，kinseeanybody’spile，andgo’emfiftythousandbetter。\"
Therewereafewmomentsofcompletesilence，inwhichMaggiesmoothedherknees，andJim’spipe，whichseemedtohavebecomegorgedandapoplecticwithitsowner’swealth，snoredunctuously。
\"Jimdear，whatif——it’son’yanideaofmine，youknow——whatifyousoldthatpiecetotheRedwoodMill，andwejesttukthatmoneyand——and——andjestliftedtheha’rofferthemfolksatLogport？
Jestastonished’em！Jesttukthebestroomsinthatnewhotel，gotahossandbuggy，dressedourselves，youandme，fittokill，andmadethemFortpeopletakeabackseatintheLord’sTabernacle，oncetforall。YouseewhatImean，Jim，\"shesaidhastily，asherbrotherseemedtobesuccumbing，likehispipe，inapoplecticastonishment，\"jeston’ytoSHOW’emwhatweCOULDdoifwekeerd。Lord！whenwedoneitandspentthemoneywe’djestsnapourfingersandskipbackyereznat’ralezlife！Yedon’tthink，Jim，\"shesaid，suddenlyturninghalffiercelyuponhim，\"thatI’dallowtoLIVEamong’em——tostayamenetafterthat！\"
Jimlaiddownhispipeandgazedathissisterwithstonydeliberation。\"And——what——do——you——kalkilate——tomakebyallthat？\"hesaidwithscornfuldistinctness。
\"Why，jesttoshow’emweHAVEgotmoney，andcouldbuy’emallupifwewantedto，\"returnedMaggie，stickingboldlytoherguns，albeitwithavagueconvictionthatherfirewasweakenedthroughelevation，andsomewhatalarmedatthedeliberationoftheenemy。
\"Andyoumeantosaytheydon’tknowitnow，\"hecontinuedwithslowderision。
\"No，\"saidMaggie。\"Why，theer’sthatnewschool—marmoveratLogport，youknow，Jim，theonethatwantedtotakeyourpicterinyourboatforayoungsmugglerorfancypirateorEyetalianfisherman，andallowedthatyou’rhandsomedsome，andofferedtopayyouforsittin’——doyoureckonSHE’Dbelieveyouownedthelandherschoolhousewasbuilton。No！Lotsof’emdon’t。Lotsof’emthinkswe’repoorandlowdown——andthemezdoesn’t，thinks\"——
\"What？\"askedherbrothersharply。
\"Thatwe’reMEAN。\"
ThequickcolorcametoJim’scheek。\"So，\"hesaid，facingherquickly，\"forthesakeofalotofriff—raffandscumthat’sdriftedherearoundus——jestforthesakeofcuttin’aswellbeforethem——you’llgooutamongthehoundsezallowedyourmotherwasaSpanishniggerorakanaka，ezcalledyourfatherapirateandlandgrabber，ezmuchasallowedhewasshotbysomeoneorkilledhimselfapurpose，ezsaidyouwasaheathenandalooneybecauseyoudidn’tgotoschoolorchurchalongwiththeirtrash，ezkeptawayfromMaw’ssicknessezifitwassmallpox，andDad’sfun’ralezifhewasahoss—thief，andleftyouandmetowatchhiscoffinonthemarshesallnighttillthetidekemback。Andnowyou——YOU
thatjinedhandswithmethatnightoverourfatherlyin’therecoldanddespised——ezifhewasadeaddogthrownupbythetide——
andsworethatezlongezthattideebbedandfloweditcouldn’tbringyoutothem，orthemtoyouagin！Younowwant——what？What？
Why，togoandcastyourlotamong’em，andliveamong’em，andjoinintheirGod—forsakenhollerfoolishness，and——and——and\"——
\"Stop！It’salie！IDIDN’Tsaythat。Don’tyoudaretosayit！\"
saidthegirl，springingtoherfeet，andfacingherbrotherinturn，withflashingeyes。
Foramomentthetwostaredateachother——itmighthavebeenasinamirror，soperfectlyweretheirpassionsreflectedineachline，shade，andcoloroftheother’sface。Itwasasiftheyhadeachconfrontedtheirownpassionateandwillfulsouls，andwerefrightened。Ithadoftenoccurredbefore，alwayswiththesameinvariableending。Theyoungman’seyesloweredfirst;thegirl’sfilledwithtears。
\"Well，efyedidn’tmeanthat，whatdidyemean？\"saidJim，sinking，withsullenapology，backintohischair。
\"I——only——meantit——for——for——revenge！\"sobbedMaggie。
\"Oh！\"saidJim，asifallowinghishighernaturetobetouchedbythisnobleinstinct。\"ButIdidn’tjestseewheretherevengekemin。\"
\"No？But，nevermindnow，Jim，\"saidMaggie，ostentatiouslyignoring，afterthefashionofhersex，thetroubleshehadprovoked;\"buttothink——that——that——youthought\"——（sobbing）。
\"ButIdidn’t，Mag\"——（caressingly）。
Withthisveryvagueandimpotentconclusion，Maggiepermittedherselftobedrawnbesideherbrother，andforafewmomentstheyplumedeachother’sruffledfeathers，andsmoothedeachother’sliftedcrests，liketwobeautifulyoungspecimensofthathalcyongenustowhichtheywerepopularlysupposedtobelong。AttheendofhalfanhourJimrose，and，yawningslightly，saidinaperfunctoryway：
\"Where’sthebook？\"
ThebookinquestionwastheBible。Ithadbeentheself—imposedcustomofthesetwoyoungpeopletoreadaloudachaptereverynightastheironevagueformulaofliteraryandreligiousdiscipline。Whenitwasproduced，Maggie，presumingonhisaffectionateandpenitentialcondition，suggestedthatto—nightheshouldpickout\"suthin’interestin’。\"ButthisunorthodoxfrivolitywassternlyputasidebyJim——albeit，bywayofcompromise，heagreedto\"chanceit，\"i。e。，openitspagesatrandom。
Hedidso。Generallyheallowedhimselfamoment’sjudiciouspauseforacertainchastepreliminaryinspectionnecessarybeforereadingaloudtoagirl。To—nightheomittedthatmodestprecaution，andinapleasantvoice，whichinreadingwassingularlyfreefromcolloquialinfelicitiesofpronunciation，beganatonce：
\"’CurseyeMeroz，saidtheangeloftheLord，curseyebitterlytheinhabitantsthereof;becausetheycamenottothehelpoftheLord，tothehelpoftheLordagainstthemighty。’\"
\"Oh，youlookedfirst，\"saidMaggie。
\"Ididn’tnow——honestInjin！Ijustopened。\"
\"Goon，\"saidMaggie，eagerlyshovinghimandinterposingherneckoverhisshoulder。
AndJimcontinuedDeborah’swonderfulsongofJaelandSiseratothebitterendofitsstrongmonosyllabicclimax。
\"There，\"hesaid，closingthevolume，\"that’swhatIcallrevenge。
That’stherealScripturething——nofancyfrillstheer。\"
\"Yes;but，Jimdear，don’tyouseethatshetreatedhimfirst——
sortergotroundhimwithfreemilkandbutter，andreg’larlyblandishedhim，\"arguedMaggieearnestly。
ButJimdeclinedtoacceptthisfemininesuggestion，ortopursuethesubjectfurther，andafterafraternalembracetheyseparatedforthenight。Jimlingeredlongenoughtolookafterthefasteningofthedoorandwindows，andMaggieremainedforsomemomentsathercasement，lookingacrossthegallerytotheMarshbeyond。
Themoonhadrisen，thetidewashalfup。Whateversignortraceofalienfootprintoroccupationhadbeentherewasalreadysmoothlyobliterated;eventheconfigurationofthelandhadchanged。Ablackcapehaddisappeared，alevellineofshorehadbeeneatenintobyteethofglisteningsilver。ThewholedarksurfaceoftheMarshwasbeginningtobestreakedwithshiningveinsasifanewlifewascoursingthroughit。PartoftheopenbaybeforetheFort，encroachingupontheshore，seemedinthemoonlighttobereachingawhiteandoutstretchedarmtowardsthenestoftheKingfisher。
III。
ThereveilleatFortRedwoodhadbeensupplementedfullfiveminutesbythevoiceofLieutenantGeorgeCalvert’sservant，beforethatyoungofficerstruggledfromhisbed。Hisheadwassplitting，histongueandlipsweredryandfeverish，hisbloodshoteyeswereshrinkingfromtheinsufferablelightoftheday，hismindaconfusedmedleyofthepastnightandthepresentmorning，ofcardsandwildrevelry，andthevisionofareproachfullytrimorderlystandingathisdoorwithreportsandorderswhichhenowheldcomposedlyinhishand。ForLieutenantCalverthadbeenenjoyingasymposiumvariouslyknownas\"StagFeed\"and\"AWildStormyNight\"
withseveralofhisbrotherofficers，andasickeningconvictionthatitwasnotthefirstorthelasttimehehadindulgedinthesefestivities。Atthatmomentheloathedhimself，andthenaftertheusualderelictfashioncursedthefatethathadsenthim，aftergraduating，toafrontiergarrison——thedullmonotonyofwhosedutiesmadetheBorderhorse—playofdissipationarelief。Alreadyhehadreachedthemiserablepointofenvyingtheveterancapacitiesofhissuperiorsandequals。\"IfIcoulddrinklikeKirbyorCrowninshield，oriftherewasanyothercursedthingamancoulddointhishole，\"hehadwretchedlyrepeatedtohimself，aftereachmisspentoccasion，andyetalreadyhewaslookingforwardtothemaspartofa’sub’s’dutyandworthyhisemulation。
AlreadythedreamofsocialrecreationfosteredbyWestPointhadbeenrudelydispelled。BeyondthegarrisoncircleofColonelPreston’sfamilyandtwoofficers’wives，therewasnosociety。
ThevaguedistrustandciviljealousywithwhichsomefrontiercommunitiesregardtheFederalpower，heightenedinthisinstancebytheuncompromisingattitudetheGovernmenthadtakentowardsthesettlers’severeIndianpolicy，hadkeptthepeopleofLogportalooffromtheFort。TheregimentalbandmightpipetothemonSaturdays，buttheywouldnotdance。
Howbeit，LieutenantCalvertdressedhimselfwithuncertainhandsbutmechanicalregularityandneatness，and，undertheautomatictrainingofdisciplineandduty，managedtobuttonhistunictightlyoverhisfeelings，topullhimselftogetherwithhissword—
belt，compressingastillcadet—likewaist，andtopresentthatindescribablecombinationofprecisionandjauntinesswhichhisbrotherofficerstoooftenallowedtolapseintofrontiercarelessness。Hiscloselyclippedlighthair，yetdrippingfromaplungeinthecoldwater，hadbeenbrushedandpartedwithmilitaryexactitude，andwhensurmountedbyhiscap，withthepeakinanartfulsuggestionofextrasmartnesstippedforwardoverhiseyes，onlyhispaleface——ashadelighterthanhislittleblondemoustache——showedhislastnight’sexcesses。Hewasmechanicallyreachingforhisswordandstaringconfusedlyatthepapersonhistablewhenhisservantinterrupted：
\"MajorBromleyarrangedthatLieutenantKirbytakesyoursashthismorning，asyou’renotwell，sir;andyou’retoreportforspecialtothecolonel，\"headded，pointingdiscreetlytotheenvelope。
Touchedbythisconsiderationofhissuperior，MajorBromley，whohadbeenoneoftheveteransoflastnight’sengagement，Calvertmasteredthecontentsoftheenvelopewithoutthecustomaryanathemaofspecials，said，\"Thankyou，Parks，\"andpassedoutontheveranda。
Theglareofthequietsunlitquadrangle，cleanasawell—sweptfloor，thewhitewashedwallsandgalleriesofthebarrackbuildingsbeyond，thewhiteandgreenpalisadeofofficers’cottagesoneitherside，andtheglitterofasentry’sbayonet，wereforamomentintolerabletohim。Yet，byakindofsubtleirony，neverbeforehadthegeniusandspiritofthevocationhehadchosenseemedtobeasincarnateasinthescenebeforehim。Seclusion，self—restraint，cleanliness，regularity，sobriety，theatmosphereofawholesomelife，theausterereserveofamonasterywithoutitsmysteriousorpensivemeditation，wereallthere。Toescapewhich，hehadofhisownfreewillsuccessivelyacceptedafool’sdistraction，theinevitableresultofwhichwas，theviewingofthemthenextmorningwithtremulousnervesandachingeyeballs。
Anhourlater，LieutenantGeorgeCalverthadreceivedhisfinalinstructionsfromColonelPrestontotakechargeofasmalldetachmenttorecoverandbringbackcertaindeserters，butnotablyone，DennisM’CaffreyofCompanyH，chargedadditionallywithmutinoussolicitationandexample。AsCalvertstoodbeforehissuperior，thatdistinguishedofficer，whoseoratoricalpowershadbeenconsiderablystimulatedthroughalongcourseof\"returningthanksfortheArmy，\"slightlyexpandedhischestandsaidpaternally：
\"Iamaware，Mr。Calvert，thatdutiesofthiskindaresomewhatdistastefultoyoungofficers，andareapttobeconsideredinthelightofpolicedetail;butImustremindyouthatnoonepartofasoldier’sdutycanbeheldmoreimportantorhonorablethananother，andthatthefulfilmentofanyone，howevertrifling，must，withhonortohimselfandsecuritytohiscomrades，receivehisfullestdevotion。Asergeantandafileofmenmightperformyourduty，butIrequire，inaddition，thediscretion，courtesy，andconsiderationofagentlemanwhowillcommandanequalrespectfromthosewithwhomhisdutybringshimincontact。Theunhappyprejudiceswhichthesettlersshowtothemilitaryauthorityhererenderthis，asyouareaware，adifficultservice，butIbelievethatyouwill，withoutforgettingtherespectduetoyourselfandtheGovernmentyourepresent，avoidarousingtheseprejudicesbyanyharshness，orinvitinganyconflictwiththecivilauthority。
Thelimitsoftheirauthorityyouwillfindinyourwritteninstructions;butyoumightgaintheirconfidence，andimpressthem，Mr。Calvert，withtheideaofyourbeingtheirAUXILIARYintheinterestsofjustice——youunderstand。Evenifyouareunsuccessfulinbringingbackthemen，youwilldoyourbesttoascertainiftheirescapehasbeenduetothesympathyofthesettlers，orevenwiththeirpreliminaryconnivance。Theymaynotbeawarethatincitingenlistedmentodesertisacriminaloffence;youwilluseyourowndiscretionininformingthemofthefactornot，asoccasionmayserveyou。Ihaveonlytoadd，thatwhileyouareonthewatersofthisbayandthelandcoveredbyitstides，youhavenooppositionofauthority，andareresponsibletonoonebutyourmilitarysuperiors。Good—bye，Mr。Calvert。Letmehearagoodaccountofyou。\"
ConsiderablymovedbyColonelPreston’smanner，whichwasaspaternalandrealashisrhetoricwassomewhatperfunctory，Calverthalfforgothiswoesashesteppedfromthecommandant’spiazza。
Buthehadtofaceagroupofhisbrotherofficers，whowereawaitinghim。
\"Good—bye，Calvert，\"saidMajorBromley;\"adayortwooutongrasswon’thurtyou——andachangefromcommissarywhiskeywillputyouallright。Bytheway，ifyouhearofanybetterstuffatWestportthanthey’regivingushere，sampleitandletusknow。Takecareofyourself。Giveyourmenachancetotalktoyounowandthen，andyoumaygetsomethingfromthem，especiallyDonovan。KeepyoureyeonRamon。Youcantrustyoursergeantstraightalong。\"
\"Good—bye，George，\"saidKirby。\"Isupposetheoldmantoldyouthat，althoughnopartofasoldier’sdutywasbetterthananother，yourservicewasaverydelicateone，justfittedforyou，eh？Healwaysdoeswhenhe’scutoutsomehellishscrub—workforachap。
Andtoldyou，too，thataslongasyoudidn’tgoashore，andkepttoadispatch—boat，oraneight—oaredgig，whereyoucouldn’tdeployyourmen，ordressaline，you’dbeinvincible。\"
\"Hedidsaysomethinglikethat，\"smiledCalvert，withanuneasyrecollection，however，thatitwasTHEpartofhissuperior’sspeechthatparticularlyimpressedhim。
\"Ofcourse，\"saidKirbygravely，\"THAT，asaninfantryofficer，isclearlyyourduty。\"
\"Anddon’tforget，George，\"saidRollinsstillmoregravely，\"that，whatevermaybefallyou，youbelongtoasectionofthatnumericallysmallbutpowerfullydiversifiedorganization——theAmericanArmy。Rememberthatinthehourofperilyoucanaddressyourmeninanylanguage，andbeperfectlyunderstood。Andrememberthatwhenyouproudlystandbeforethem，theeyesnotonlyofyourowncountry，butofnearlyalltheothers，areuponyou！
Good—bye，Georgey。Iheardthemajorhintsomethingaboutwhiskey。
Theysaythatoldpirate，KingfisherCulpepper，hadastockoftherealthingfromRobertsonCountylaidinhisshebangontheMarshjustbeforehedied。Pitywearen’tontermswiththem，forthecubscannotdrinkit，andmightbeinducedtosell。Shouldn’twonder，bytheway，ifyourfriendM’Caffreywashangingroundsomewherethere;healwayshadakeenscent。Youmightconfiscateitasan\"incitementtodesertion，\"youknow。Thegirl’spretty，andoughttobegrowingupnow。\"
Buthaplyatthispointthesergeantstoppedfurtherraillerybyreportingthedetachmentready;anddrawinghissword，Calvert，withaconfusedhead，aremorsefulheart，butanunfalteringstep，marchedoffhismenonhisdelicatemission。
Itwasfouro’clockwhenheenteredJonesville。Followingamatter—of—factideaofhisown，hehadbroughthismenthegreaterdistancebyacircuitousroutethroughthewoods，thusavoidingtheostentatiousexposureofhispartyontheopenbayinawell—mannedboattoanextendedviewfromthethreeleaguesofshoreandmarshopposite。Crossingthestream，whichhereseparatedhimfromtheDedlowMarshbythecommonferry，hehadthusbeenenabledtohaltunperceivedbelowthesettlementandoccupythetworoadsbywhichthefugitivescouldescapeinland。Hehaddeemeditnotimpossiblethat，afterthepreviousvisitofthesergeant，thedesertershiddeninthevicinitymightreturntoJonesvilleinthebeliefthatthevisitwouldnotberepeatedsosoon。Leavingapartofhissmallforcetopatroltheroadandanothertodeployovertheuplandmeadows，heenteredthevillage。Bytheexerciseofsomeboyishdiplomacyandacertainprepossessinggrace，whichheknewwhenandhowtoemploy，hebecamesatisfiedthattheobjectsofhisquestwerenotTHERE——however，theirwhereaboutsmighthavebeenknowntothepeople。Dividinghispartyagain，heconcludedtotakeacorporalandafewmenandexplorethelowermarsheshimself。
Thepreoccupationofduty，exercise，andperhaps，aboveall，thekeenstimulusoftheiodine—ladensaltairseemedtoclearhismindandinvigoratehisbody。HehadneverbeenintheMarshbefore，andenjoyeditsnoveltywiththezestofyouth。Itwasthehourwhenthetideofitsfeatheredlifewasatitsflood。Cloudsofduckandtealpassingfromthefreshwateroftherivertothesaltpoolsofthemarshesperpetuallyswepthispathwithflyingshadows;attimesitseemedasifeventheuncertaingroundaroundhimitselfaroseandspedawayonduskywings。Thevicinityofhiddenpoolsandsloughswasbetrayedbystartledsplashings;afewpacesfromtheirmarchingfeetarosethesunlitpinionsofaswan。
Theairwasfilledwithmultitudinoussmallcriesandpipings。Inthisvocalconfusionitwassomeminutesbeforeherecognizedthevoiceofoneofhisout—flankerscallingtotheother。
Animportantdiscoveryhadbeenmade。InalongtongueofbushesthatrandowntotheMarshtheyhadfoundamud—staineduniform，completeeventothecap，bearingtheinitialofthedeserter’scompany。
\"Isthereanyhutorcabinhereabouts，Schmidt？\"askedCalvert。
\"Dotvosschoostit，Lefdennun，\"repliedhiscorporal。\"DotvosdeshantyfromderKingvisher——oldGulbebber。Ipetadollar，pyshimminy，dotdermenhafdergekommt。\"
Hepointedthroughthebraketoalong，lowbuildingthatnowraiseditself，whiteinthesunlight，abovethemanyblackenedpiles。Calvertsawinasinglereconnoitringglancethatithadbutoneapproach——theflightofstepsfromtheMarsh。Instructinghismentofallinontheouteredgeofthebrakeandawaithisorders，hequicklymadehiswayacrossthespaceandascendedthesteps。Passingalongthegalleryheknockedatthefrontdoor。
Therewasnoresponse。Herepeatedhisknock。Thenthewindowbesideitopenedsuddenly，andhewasconfrontedwiththedouble—
muzzleofalongducking—gun。Glancinginstinctivelyalongthebarrels，hesawattheirotherextremitythebrighteyes，brilliantcolor，andsmallsetmouthofaremarkablyhandsomegirl。Itwasthefact，andtothecreditofhistraining，thathepaidmoreattentiontotheeyesthantothechallengeoftheshiningtubesbeforehim。
\"Jeststopwhereyouare——willyou！\"saidthegirldeterminedly。
Calvert’sfacebetrayednottheslightestterrororsurprise。
Immovableasonparade，hecarriedhiswhiteglovedhandtohiscap，andsaidgently，\"Withpleasure。\"
\"Ohyes，\"saidthegirlquickly;\"butifyoumoveastepI’lljestblowyouandyourglovesofferthatrailin’intertheMarsh。\"
\"Itrustnot，\"returnedCalvert，smiling。
\"Andwhy？\"
\"Becauseitwoulddeprivemeofthepleasureofafewmoments’
conversationwithyou——andI’veonlyonepairofgloveswithme。\"
Hewasstillwatchingherbeautifuleyes——respectfully，admiringly，andstrategically。ForhewasquiteconvincedthatifheDIDmoveshewouldcertainlydischargeoneorbothbarrelsathim。
\"Where’stherestofyou？\"shecontinuedsharply。
\"Aboutthreehundredyardsaway，inthecovert，notnearenoughtotroubleyou。\"
\"Willtheycomehere？\"
\"Itrustnot。\"
\"Youtrustnot？\"sherepeatedscornfully。\"Why？
\"Becausetheywouldbedisobeyingorders。\"
Sheloweredhergunslightly，butkeptherblackbrowslevelledathim。\"IreckonI’mamatchforYOU，\"shesaid，withaslightlycontemptuousglanceathisslightfigure，andopenedthedoor。Foramomenttheystoodlookingateachother。Hesaw，besidesthehandsomefaceandeyesthathadcharmedhim，atallslimfigure，madebroaderacrosstheshouldersbyanopenpea—jacketthatshowedaman’sredflannelshirtbeltedatthewaistoverablueskirt，withthecollarknottedbyasailor’sblackhandkerchief，andturnedbackoveraprettythoughsunburntthroat。Shesawaratherundersizedyoungfellowinajauntyundressuniform，scantofgoldbraid，andbearingonlythesinglegoldshoulder—barsofhisrank，butscrupulouslyneatandwellfitting。Light—coloredhaircroppedclose，thesmallestoflightmoustaches，clearandpenetratingblueeyes，andafewfrecklescompletedapicturethatdidnotprepossessher。Shewasthereforethemoreinclinedtoresenttheperfecteaseandself—possessionwithwhichthestrangercarriedoffthesemanifestdefectsbeforeher。
Shelaidasidethegun，putherhandsdeepinthepocketsofherpea—jacket，and，slightlysquaringhershoulders，saidcurtly，\"Whatdoyouwant？\"
\"Averylittleinformation，whichItrustitwillnottroubleyoutogiveme。MymenhavejustdiscoveredtheuniformbelongingtoadeserterfromtheFortlyinginthebushesyonder。Canyougivemetheslightestideahowitcamethere？\"
\"Whatrighthaveyoutrapseingoverourproperty？\"shesaid，turninguponhimsharply，withaslightpalingofcolor。
\"Nonewhatever。\"
\"Thenwhatdidyoucomefor？\"
\"Toaskthatpermission，incaseyouwouldgivemenoinformation。\"
\"Whydon’tyouaskmybrother，andnotawoman？Wereyouafraid？\"
\"Hecouldhardlyhavedonemethehonorofplacingmeinmoreperilthanyouhave，\"returnedCalvert，smiling。\"ThenIhavethepleasureofaddressingMissCulpepper？\"
\"I’mJimCulpepper’ssister。\"
\"And，Ibelieve，equallyabletogiveorrefusethepermissionI
ask。\"
\"AndwhatifIrefuse？\"
\"ThenIhaveonlytoaskpardonforhavingtroubledyou，goback，andreturnherewiththetide。Youdon’tresistTHATwithashot—
gun，doyou？\"heaskedpleasantly。
MaggieCulpepperwasalreadyfamiliarwiththeacceptedtheoryofthesupremejurisdictionoftheFederalSea。Shehalfturnedherbackuponhim，partlytoshowhercontempt，butpartlytoevadethedominationofhisclear，good—humored，andself—sustainedlittleeyes。
\"Idon’tknowanythin’aboutyourdeserters，norwhatragso’
theirshappentobefloateduphere，\"shesaid，angrily，\"anddon’tcareto。Youkindowhatyoulike。\"
\"ThenI’mafraidIshouldremainherealittlelonger，MissCulpepper;butmyduty\"——
\"Yourwot？\"sheinterrupted，disdainfully。
\"IsupposeIAMtalkingshop，\"hesaidsmilingly。\"Thenmybusiness\"——
\"Yourbusiness——pickin’uphalf—starvedrunaways！\"
\"And，Itrust，sometimesakindfriend，\"hesuggested，withagravebow。
\"YouTRUST？Lookyer，youngman，shesaid，withherquick，fierce，littlelaugh，\"IreckonyouTRUSTaheaptoomuch！\"Shewouldliketohaveadded，\"withyourfreckledface，redhair，andlittleeyes\"——butthiswouldhaveobligedhertofacethemagain，whichshedidnotcaretodo。
Calvertsteppedback，liftedhishandtohiscap，stillpleasantly，andthenwalkedgravelyalongthegallery，downthesteps，andtowardsthecover。Fromherwindow，unseen，shefollowedhisneatlittlefiguremovingundeviatinglyon，withoutlookingtotheleftorright，andstilllesstowardsthehousehehadjustquitted。
Thenshesawthesunlightflashoncross—beltplatesandsteelbarrels，andalightbluelineissuedfromoutthedarkgreenbushes，roundthepoint，anddisappeared。Andthenitsuddenlyoccurredtoherwhatshehadbeendoing！This，then，washerfirststeptowardsthatfancyshehadsolatelyconceived，quarrelledoverwithherbrother，andlayawakelastnighttoplaceanew，inspiteofallopposition！ThiswasherbrilliantideaofdazzlingandsubduingLogportandtheFort！Hadshegrownsilly，orwhathadhappened？Couldshehavedreamedofthecomingofthiswhipper—snapper，withhisinsufferableairs，afterthatbeggarlydeserter？IamafraidthatforafewmomentsthemiserablefugitivehadassmallaplaceinMaggie’ssympathyastheredoubtablewhipper—snapperhimself。Andnowthecherisheddreamoftriumphandconquestwasover！Whata\"looney\"shehadbeen！
Insteadofinvitinghimin，andoutdoinghimin\"companymanners，\"
and\"fooling\"himaboutthedeserter，andthenblazinguponhimafterwardsatLogportinthegloryofherfirstspentwealthandfinery，shehaddrivenhimaway！
Andnow\"he’llgoandtell——telltheFortgirlsofhishairbreadthescapefromtheclawsoftheKingfisher’sdaughter！\"
Thethoughtbroughtafewbittertearstohereyes，butshewipedthemaway。ThethoughtbroughtalsotheterribleconvictionthatJimwasright，thattherecouldbenothingbutopenantagonismbetweenthemandthetraducersoftheirparents，assheherselfhadinstinctivelyshown！Butshepresentlywipedthatconvictionawayalso，asshehadhertears。
HalfanhourlatershewasattractedbytheappearancefromthewindowsofcertainstragglingbluespotsontheuplandthatseemedmovingdiagonallytowardstheMarsh。ShedidnotknowthatitwasCalvert’ssecond\"detail\"joininghim，butbelievedforamomentthathehadnotyetdeparted，andwasstrangelyrelieved。Stilllaterthefrequentdisturbedcriesofcoot，heron，andmarsh—hen，recognizingthepresenceofunusualinvadersoftheirsolitude，distractedheryetmore，andforcedheratlastwithincreasingcolorandanuneasysenseofshynesstostealouttothegalleryforaswiftfurtivesurveyoftheMarsh。Butanutterlyunexpectedsightmethereyes，andkepthermotionless。
Thebirdswererisingeverywhereanddriftingawaywithquerulousperturbationbeforeasmallbutaugmentedbluedetachmentthatwasmovingwithmonotonousregularitytowardsthepointofbusheswhereshehadseentheyoungofficerpreviouslydisappear。Intheirmidst，betweentwosoldierswithfixedbayonets，marchedthemanwhomevenatthatdistancesheinstantlyrecognizedasthedeserteroftheprecedingnight，intheveryclothesshehadgivenhim。Tocompleteherconsternation，alittletotherightmarchedtheyoungofficeralso，butaccompaniedby，andapparentlyonthemostamicabletermswith，Jim——herownbrother！
Toforgetallelseanddartdownthesteps，flyingtowardsthepointofbushes，scarcelyknowingwhyorwhatshewasdoing，wastoMaggietheimpulseandworkofamoment。Whenshehadreacheditthepartywerenottwentypacesaway。Buthereashynessandhesitationagainseizedher，andsheshrankbackinthebusheswithaninstinctivecrytoherbrotherinarticulateuponherlips。Theycamenearer，theywereoppositetoher;herbrotherJimkeepingstepwiththeinvader，andevenconversingwithhimwithananimationshehadseldomseenuponhisface——theypassed！Shehadbeenunnoticedexceptbyone。Therovingeyeofthedeserterhaddetectedherhandsomefaceamongtheleaves，slightlyturnedtowardsit，andpouredouthiswholesoulinasingleswiftwinkofeloquentbutindescribableconfidence。
