“You really look brave and strong.  One would know that you could do things.”

“I’ve always had to do things.”

They came up to the party who had stopped to camp for the night.  It was a clear warm evening.  After they had hobbled the horses in a near meadow flat, Jack and his father made a lean-to for the women and children and roofed it with bark.  Then they cut wood and built a fire and gathered boughs for bedding.  Later, tea was made and beefsteaks and bacon grilled on spits of green birch, the dripping fat being caught on slices of toasting bread whereon the meat was presently served.

The masterful power with which the stalwart youth and his father swung the ax and their cunning craftsmanship impressed the English woman and her daughter and were soon to be the topic of many a London tea party.  Mrs. Hare spoke of it as she was eating her supper.

“It may surprise you further to learn that the boy is fairly familiar with the Aeneid and the Odes of Horace and the history of France and England,” said John Irons.

“That is the most astonishing thing I have ever heard!” she exclaimed.  “How has he done it?”

“The minister was his master until we went into the bush.  Then I had to be farmer and school-teacher.  There is a great thirst for learning in this New World.”

“How do you find time for it?”

“Oh, we have leisure here—­more than you have.  In England even your wealthy young men are over-worked.  They dine out and play cards until three in the morning and sleep until midday.  Then luncheon and the cock fight and tea and Parliament!  The best of us have only three steady habits.  We work and study and sleep.”

“And fight savages,” said the woman.

“We do that, sometimes, but it is not often necessary.  If it were not for white savages, there would be no red ones.  You would find America a good country to live in.”

“At least I hope it will be good to sleep in this night,” the woman answered, yawning.  “Dreamland is now the only country I care for.”

The ladies and children, being near spent by the day’s travel and excitement, turned in soon after supper.  The men slept on their blankets, by the fire, and were up before daylight for a dip in the creek near by.  While they were getting breakfast, the women and children had their turn at the creekside.

That day the released captives were in better spirits.  Soon after noon the company came to a swollen river where the horses had some swimming to do.  The older animals and the following colts went through all right, but the young stallion which Jack and Margaret were riding, began to rear and plunge.  The girl in her fright jumped off his back in swift water and was swept into the rapids and tumbled about and put in some danger before Jack could dismount and bring her ashore.

“You have increased my debt to you,” she said, when at last they were mounted again.  “What a story this is!  It is terribly exciting.”