after all, it was not colonel lewis nor ran who first found the two lost ones, but that humble and frequently despised creature, trouble. trouble at whom colonel lewis always jeered, whom phil often teased, and mary lee abused to his face, calling him mongrel cur while he wagged his tail in happy unconsciousness that she was not calling him a pet name. it was a favorite amusement of mary lee's to use all sorts of uncomplimentary words in a caressing voice when speaking to the dog, so that trouble would believe he was being made much of and would respond in his best manner.
nan suddenly remembered this after her return home and she called the dog, wrote a note and tied it around his neck, then bade him follow the carriage, which at that time was still in sight. he understood and obeyed gladly for he always delighted to be one of an outgoing party. that he did not follow them earlier in the afternoon was because mary lee had driven him back when he had tried to become one of their number. "he is always scaring up rabbits and frightening birds when phil [pg 238]and i want to observe their habits," she said in excuse.
"observe their habits," mocked nan. "do let him go; he can follow me all he likes."
"that's just what he will not do," mary lee returned. "he always comes with us."
"because you go prowling around and i sit still," retorted nan. "he's just as fond of me, i know."
but mary lee had her way and called unc' landy to keep trouble at home.
colonel lewis and ran had already started upon their search when trouble sprang out of the darkness toward the fire in front of which ashby sat. greatly pleased at discovering one of the family, trouble nearly wagged off the hind part of his body. that ashby was glad to see him goes without the saying, and the boy was glad for more than one reason.
"good boy, trouble, come here," he said. "you've had a long tramp, haven't you? what's that around your neck?" he unfastened the note which was tied to his collar. it read: "send trouble after mary lee and phil. he can get the scent from their coats that we put in the carriage. oh, i hope he can find them. nan."
ashby ran to the carriage and dragged forth the wraps. quickly selecting a coat of mary lee's and [pg 239]one of phil's, he held them out. "here, trouble," he said, "seek them. find mary lee, trouble." the dog sniffed the coat, trotted off a few steps, looked back to see if he was doing what was expected of him, and then, with nose to the ground, took up the scent and disappeared.
at this very moment, phil was cowering in the leaves in momentary fear of hearing the wildcat's scream closer at hand. an owl hooting mournfully near-by suddenly awakened mary lee who gave a little shriek of terror as she realized where she was. "i've been asleep in these dreadful lonely woods," she said. "how could i do it? oh, phil, what's that?" for again the cry of the wildcat sounded through the forest.
"never mind, mary lee," said phil. "don't be scared. i'll take care of you."
"how can you," said mary lee, "a boy with not even a pistol? what can you do to a wildcat?"
"i'll fight it as long as i can," said phil between set teeth, "and you could get away anyhow. hark! what's that?" for there was a new sound in the woods that was neither cry of wildcat nor hoot of owl, but the honest and friendly bark of a dog.
phil sprang to his feet.
"is it—is it a wolf?" asked mary lee in trepidation.
[pg 240]
"no sir-ee," cried phil, excitedly. "it's a dog, a sure enough dog, and, if i am not much mistaken, it's old trouble."
mary lee scrambled from her nest of leaves and joined phil in calling. "trouble, trouble! hyar! hyar!"
there was a joyous yelp, a scampering over dead leaves and presently trouble dashed out of the darkness toward them.
"oh, trouble, trouble, you blessed old dear!" mary lee flung her arms around the dog who could not keep still in his joy and excitement.
"listen! look!" cried phil. there was a faint call in the distance, then the twinkle of a light seen through the naked trees. phil's mountain call was answered and the lights came nearer and nearer. trouble dashed toward them barking, yelping. the owl was silent, though they heard the soft rush of wings overhead. the cry of the wildcat sounded faint and far, but close at hand came a glad "hallo!" followed by the call of "phil, phil, are you safe, boy?" and in another minute the forms of colonel lewis and ran appeared in the gleam of their lanterns which shot long beams aslant the darkness, and discovered phil and mary lee standing in the pile of dry leaves.
[pg 241]
it was a triumphant journey home and no one was more contented than trouble who lay snuggled by mary lee's side, his head in her lap, while the slow way was made down the mountainside.
it was almost midnight before the horses drew up before the house, but a light shining from the living-room showed that some one was still up and watching. at the sound of the wheels aunt sarah came forth and peered out.
"all safe," cried ran, climbing down. he was followed by ashby, mary lee and trouble last, though upon this occasion not least.
colonel lewis drove away saying there was too much anxiety at his own home for him to stop a moment to talk.
after hearing particulars, and learning that they had eaten on their way home, aunt sarah hustled every one to bed, saying that rest was the best for each one of them.
nan had fallen asleep at last, but, as mary lee slipped into bed beside her, she was conscious of her presence and stretched out a hand to be sure, then threw an arm around her sister as if to keep her from slipping away again.
there was great rejoicing in the morning and jack was so full of the adventures of phil and mary lee [pg 242]that she could not keep her mind on her sunday-school lesson and heard scarce a word her teacher said.
trouble was made much of and was saved so many tid-bits from the breakfast plates that he was in danger of an attack of indigestion. "i'll never call him a mongrel cur again," said mary lee tenderly. "if it hadn't been for him, we might never have been found."
"you forget," said randolph, with a look across the table at nan, "that if it hadn't been for nan, trouble would never have gone in search of you," and then and there nan forgave him for his rude speech of the day before.
"if i hadn't come home, i would never have thought of sending him," she acknowledged. "he ought to have a medal, bless him."
"so he shall have," said ran, and he gravely provided a tin medal on which was scratched: "for heroic service." this was fastened to the dog's collar and it was worn proudly.
however much nan may have felt that ran had made amends, the boy himself did not consider that he had and came to his cousin as she was tidying up the living-room. "are you going to church, nan?" he asked.
"i don't know," she replied. "i feel as if i had [pg 243]been drawn through a knot-hole this morning. of course, mary lee won't go and maybe i'll stay at home to keep her company, though she's still asleep, poor child."
"i thought if you were going i'd wait for you," said ran.
nan threw him a mocking smile. "i thought you didn't care for my company," she said.
"that was yesterday," returned ran. "besides, i didn't say i didn't want your company; i said i didn't want you to stay up there on the mountain and so i didn't, for i was afraid then that those two were lost and i knew it would be harder for you there than at home. then i knew if we set out on a search you couldn't go and it would not do to leave you all alone."
"i realized all that afterward," nan told him frankly.
"then we have made up," said ran with boyish eagerness.
"of course," returned nan. "i was miffed only for a few minutes. i knew before we got home that you spoke as you did so i wouldn't insist upon staying. still," she added, "it was hard to go off and leave one's sister to wildcats, though i must say mary lee isn't thinking much about them at this moment, and i hope she isn't dreaming about [pg 244]them. there comes phil, so he is all right. mary lee says he was so brave and manly, little as he is."
phil joined them. "say, did any of you see my watch?" were his first words.
"why, no," replied the two. "have you lost it, phil?" asked nan.
"i'm afraid so. i must have caught the chain on something in the woods and snapped it so the watch fell out when i stooped over. the end of the chain was hanging from the buttonhole when i looked last night after i came home, but the watch was gone."
"isn't that too bad?" said nan, sympathetically. "you will have a hard time finding it, i am afraid."
"i'm afraid so. i wouldn't lose that watch for anything, and i'm going to hunt high and low for it."
"we'll all help," said ran. "we'll organize a search party, phil, and go up the mountain to-morrow afternoon."
"say, that will be fine," said phil, gratefully. his watch was one of his dearest possessions; he had not had it very long and was feeling very hopeless over its loss. "i don't suppose we shall find it," he went on, "but i'm glad to have your help in looking for it. how's mary lee?"
"she's asleep," nan told him. "aunt sarah said [pg 245]we were not to disturb her. i think she is only worn out. you are all right, aren't you, phil?"
"yes, indeed, or i would be if i hadn't lost my watch. they are waiting for me; i must go or i will be late for church."
"i reckon i'll go," said nan suddenly. miss sarah, the twins and ashby had gone on, and soon nan followed with randolph. she was feeling very thankful for her sister's safety, and she was not the only one of that congregation who sent up a silent prayer of gratitude for the deliverance of two children from the "terror by night."
the next afternoon, the search party started forth though this time miss sarah declared the girls should not go, that they had not yet recovered from the effects of their last trip. however, since colonel lewis was to be their guide, and his daughter was going, too, consent was finally given to mary lee, though she was charged not to lose sight of the older members of the party.
"i really don't feel as if i ought to let you go," said aunt sarah, "but, since polly and her father will be there, i can assume that you will be reasonably safe."
"when phil was so good to me and would have fought the wildcat if it had attacked us, i ought to go," said mary lee. "i should feel downright [pg 246]mean not to help look for the watch. besides, i know where we were better than any one."
"well, go along," said aunt sarah, "but don't you lose sight for one minute of polly and her father and don't go traipsing off with phil alone."
mary lee promised, and they set out.
nan had had enough of the mountain for one while, and besides her arm was scarce strong enough for her to indulge in horseback riding, for it was in this fashion that the party determined to go. the twins were in terror of the wildcat and it was not difficult to persuade them to remain behind.
a thin stream of smoke curled up above the purple-brown trees against the blue sky as the riders turned toward the mountain path.
"i wonder if that is our fire still burning," said mary lee to the colonel.
"hardly," he answered. "it is some cabin in the mountain i suppose."
mary lee watched the smoke drift away across the blue and wondered how it would seem to live so far from neighbors. she decided that she would not like it. they were able to penetrate much further with their horses, and this time colonel lewis's compass was put to use. when the path became too intricate they fastened their horses and the colonel led the way on foot, and finally reached [pg 247]the very log where phil and mary lee had rested the night of their wanderings.
to their surprise, a little further on was a clearing, and it was discovered that the path they had taken led them to a cabin, from which came the stream of curling smoke they had seen as they came up the mountain. after searching all along their way and at last scattering the leaves by the log they concluded that they must give up the watch as irretrievably lost, and were about to turn away when mary lee saw some one watching them curiously from a little distance off.
"there's somebody," she said to her cousin polly. "i am going to ask if anything has been seen of the watch."
"where's anybody?" asked polly.
"over there; it is a little girl about as big as i am."
"it must be wordsworth's cottage girl," said polly, "for she has 'a rustic woodland air, and she is wildly clad.' i reckon she will run if you speak to her, mary lee. these mountain people are mighty scary."
"then don't you come. maybe she won't be afraid of a girl her own size. you stay here."
polly agreed and mary lee went toward the girl who did indeed show signs of alarm and looked as [pg 248]if she were about to run away when mary lee called to her, "don't go, please. i want to ask you something."
the girl stood her ground though she backed away as mary lee came up. she was a pretty, dark-eyed little creature with masses of light curly hair tousled about her neck. she wore a ragged, faded calico frock and her feet were bare.
"my cousin and i got lost up here saturday night," said mary lee, "and if we had known there was a house so near we wouldn't have been so scared. we heard a wildcat and it frightened us nearly out of our wits."
the girl looked interested. mary lee had chosen the proper way to approach her. "we-alls ain't skeered of 'em," she drawled. "maw shot one las' week, an' she come nigh gittin' another yessaday."
"maybe it was the very one that scared us. i wish she had killed it. i wonder why we didn't see a light in your house. that is your house, isn't it?"
"yes, we-alls lives hyah. they wasn't no light, 'scusin' the fiah, an' that died down arter supper. we-alls goes to bed with the chickens."
"we didn't get home till nearly midnight," mary lee told her, "and my, but i was tired. my cousin and i got lost from the rest and they had a great [pg 249]time finding us. if we had only gone on a little further, we should have come to your house, shouldn't we?"
"we-alls don't come aroun' that-a-way from town; we comes up the other side; it's a little mite furder but it ain't so steep."
"oh, that's it. i wish we had known." then feeling that she had established a sufficient acquaintance to put her important question she asked, "you didn't happen to find a little watch in the leaves, did you? my cousin lost it. he sets such store by it and we all came up the mountain this afternoon to help him find it."
for answer the girl put her hand down into the bosom of her frock and drew forth something which she held out in her palm. it was phil's watch.
"oh!" mary lee turned and called: "polly, polly, it's found! it's found!" she turned to the girl again. "where did you find it? and please tell me your name."
"my name's daniella boggs," said the girl, taking a shy look at polly lewis who now came up.
polly put out her hand and gently detained the girl who seemed about to flee. "we are so much obliged," she said. "my little brother was distressed at losing his watch. where did you find it?"
[pg 250]
the girl who had put one finger in her mouth, took it out and pointed to the heap of leaves by the log. it was evident that in stooping over to gather them phil had dropped the watch.
colonel lewis moved toward them but polly waved him off. she saw that the girl was too shy to stand more company, and she left her with mary lee, herself returning to her father. "offer her a reward," he said. "of course it was very honest of her. she could easily have said that she had seen nothing of the watch. here," he took a bill from his pocketbook and handed it to polly, "give her this and tell her we all thank her very much."
polly carried the bill to the girl. "my father and all of us are very much obliged to you," she said, "and we want you to take this."
daniella retreated, shaking her head and putting her hands behind her. "i don't want it," she said. "i ain't done nothin' to earn it. 'twa'n't no work nor nothin'."
"oh, but," polly argued, "when people lose things, they expect to give a reward to whoever finds them."
daniella still shook her head. "i ain't done nothin'," she repeated. "maw wouldn't like me to take money."
"but you could spend it in town."
[pg 251]
"don't never go to town."
"but isn't there anything you would like? your mother could buy it for you, you know."
daniella looked at the red knitted jacket which mary lee wore. "i like that," she said, nodding her head toward it.
"then you shall have one just like it," said polly, heartily. "i will go right to work and knit it myself. wouldn't you like a pair of shoes for winter? and can you read?"
"maw kin. i kain't. i'd like the shoes when it snows, but i hates to put 'em on befo' that."
"then you shall have a pair all ready for the first snow," polly told her.
"i wish you would come to my home some day. will you, if we come for you?" asked mary lee, with a missionary spirit of enlarging the girl's ideas.
"i'd be skeered," said daniella.
"oh, no, you wouldn't. i have three sisters and we don't live right in the town; it's like country. we have chickens and things."
"i've got some chickens," returned daniella, "an' i've got a pig, too. maw wouldn't let me go to town, i reckon, 'cause i ain't got clothes like you-uns. she ain't no time to make 'em. she too busy nussin' grandad. he right foolish-lak now, jest lak a baby."
"well, we'll come some day to see if your mother will let you come to town," said mary lee.
"and i will bring you a red jacket like this." polly put her hand on mary lee's arm. "good-bye, daniella. we shall not forget you."
daniella smiled, but made no reply. she wondered if she would really ever have such a beautiful thing as that red jacket. about going to town she was not so keen, for she had never been there in all her short life, and, though she half longed to see its wonders, she feared to step beyond the confines of her own forest.
she watched the party ride off, but turned to run as phil, who declared he must thank her personally, went toward her. like a deer the girl fled, not stopping till she was safe in her own cabin-home. her courage had stood all that one afternoon would allow.
