“If, by ‘constantly,’ you mean at fitting times,” replied Mr. Lee, “I certainly shall not object.  I, too, must endeavor to become somewhat expert, for in this wild country, where bears and wolves are still known, it is absolutely necessary to be able to defend oneself and others.”

“I never think of savage animals,” said Mrs. Lee, “but of snakes, I must confess I am very much afraid of them, particularly of rattlesnakes.”

“You needn’t mind them a bit, Marm,” answered Mr. Jones; “they none of them will strike you, if you don’t meddle with them; and as for the rattlesnake, why, as folks call the lion the king of beasts, I say the rattlesnake is king of creeping things; he don’t come slyly twisting and crawling, but if you get in his way, gives you sorter warning before he bites.”

“Indeed, sister,” said Uncle John, “Mr. Jones is right when he tells you you need not be afraid of them—­they are more afraid of us, and besides are wonderfully easy to kill; a blow with a stick, in the hand of a child, on or about the head, will render them powerless to do hurt.”

“And if you should get a bite, Marm,” added Mr. Jones, “the very best thing you can do is to take a live chicken, split it in two, and lay it on to the wound:  it’s a sartain sure cure.”

“Why, Annie, if there are many rattlesnakes,” cried Tom, laughing, “it will be worse for your chickens than the hawks!”

“Annie will dream to-night of you, and snakes, and chickens, all in a jumble, Mr. Jones; but don’t you think it is time to prepare our sleeping-place?  It is past eight o’clock, and we must be stirring early.”

After packing up the remains of the supper, Mrs. Lee and the children retired to their mattresses in the wagon, and the men having put together a kind of wigwam of branches for themselves, and piled up the fire, were soon resting from the labors of the day.

The sun had scarcely risen the next morning when our travellers were prepared for their last day’s journey.  All was bustle and excitement with Uncle John and Tom; and Mr. and Mrs. Lee, though quiet, felt an eager impatience for a sight of their future dwelling-place.  And fast and hard was the beating of their hearts, when after a few hours they beheld before them their own little possession!  Some thirty acres of rich pasture-land, sloped gently to the margin of a broad stream, which flowed with a smooth and rapid current, and whose opposite shore gave a view of a lovely undulating country, bounded by distant mountains, robed in misty blue.  The grand primeval forest nearly enclosed the other three sides of this vast meadow.  It was a beautiful scene, and to Mr. Lee it almost seemed that he must be dreaming, to look upon it as his own.  Deep and heartfelt was the thanksgiving he silently breathed to the Giver of all good, that He had brought him to this land of plenty, and given him such a heritage in the wilderness.