XVII. 



A RAINY MORNING. CLEARING UP A NEW COUNTRY. A HALT- 

 BREED AND HIS FAMILY. 



WE sat after breakfast, in the morning, under the 

 shelter of our homely roof, smoking our pipes, and 

 listening to the small rain pattering upon our covering 

 of bark, and the big drops rustling among the forest 

 leaves. " A rainy day isn't a bad thing, Squire, for 

 you and I here," said Tucker. " It gives us a resting 

 spell, and shows us the forest in a new dress. We've 

 worked pretty hard since we started, and want a little 

 breathing time. To me it ain't much, for I'm used to 

 it, and a few days travel I don't mind ; but you've 

 been raised in a city, where people ain't used to such 

 jaunts as this, and their timbers won't stand, at first, 

 what mine will. You've stood it bravely, and I'll 

 own up, that when we started, I thought I'd stretch 

 your legs for you, in a way that would make you give 



