“Those men that I’ve done so much for and worked so hard for this winter!”

At last, convinced, his face set with the determined look that I had seen on it once or twice before.

“I’ll not raise the wages of a single man, and, what’s more, I’d turn them all off the place, if only I could find others.  But those boats at Catlettsburg, they are the most important.  The Company would send me up men from Cincinnati, if only I could get word to them; but these rascals will stop any letter I send.  Those Sandians are capable of it,—­or rather they are capable of putting the Irishmen up to doing their dirty work for them.”

“A letter would be safe, if it once reached Catlettsburg?” I asked.

“Certainly.  But how to get it there?”

“I can take it.  Nobody will suspect me.  Give me the letter to-night, and I will go to-morrow.”

“You, Janet? you are crazy!”

“No, indeed.  I often ride to Louisa; what is to hinder me from having errands to Catlettsburg.  I could go down there in one day, and take two days back, if my father thinks it is too much for old Bill to take it through in one.”

“Oh, you could borrow Swiftfoot.  I have often lent him to you, and he would carry you safely and surely.  I don’t believe any harm would come to you, and so much depends upon it.”

I turned the skiff decidedly.

“You have only to get your letter ready and give it to me when I come over in the morning to borrow Swiftfoot.  I will take care of all the rest.”

And, sculling rapidly, we were at the wharf again before he had time to raise objections.  I knew that I could persuade my mother into letting me go to Louisa again the next day, for we needed all our spring purchases,—­and once there, it was easy to find it necessary to go to the mouth.  I had never been alone, but often with my father or some of our hands; besides, I was too well able to take care of myself, too accustomed to have my own way, to anticipate any anxiety about my not returning.

And so it proved.  The next morning saw me mounted on Swiftfoot, the letter safe in my bosom, and a long list of articles wanted in my pocket.  What a lovely ride that was, with the gentle, spirited horse of which I was so fond for a companion and my own beautiful forests in all their loveliest spring green around me, with just enough of mystery and danger in the expedition to add an exhilarating excitement and with the happy consciousness that I was doing something for Mr. Hammond, who had done so much for me, to urge me on!  I cantered merrily past Jim Foushee’s cornfield, and, nodding to him, as be stood in the door of his log-house, I enjoyed telling him that I was going to Louisa on a shopping expedition.  “Should I get anything for him?  He could see that Mr. Hammond had lent me Swiftfoot, so that I should soon be back, if I could buy all I wanted in Louisa; if not, I did believe I should go on to Catlettsburg:  the ride would be so glorious!”