68 THE BED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
"Dar, chile," she said, ahuost sharply, " doan ye go ter 
axin' questions. De Lo'd an' I done got two er free 
secrets what pickaninnies mus'n know nuf'n' 'bout. You 
jes' eat yo' supper an' be quiet." 
His thoughts diverted for a few minutes by this last 
suggestion, Lex busied himself with his bread and 
molasses. Then he asked, — 
" Mammy, who was it you read 'bout in de Bible dat 
got fo' or five t'ousand hoe-cakes f'm a flock of crows ? " 
Laws-a-me, jes' hear him ! " cried mammy, an ill- 
suppressed chuckle of fun driving the anxiety out of her 
face for a moment. " 'Twas meat, meat, chile, what dem 
birds bro't to 'Lijah." 
" An' would dey brung meat to us, mammy, ef we wus 
mighty hungry ? " 
" I reckon so, honey," said Chloe, with a sweet look of 
faith in her honest eyes. " He's never f ergot us yit." 
So Lex was satisfied, and returned to his post by the 
fire. Presently he looked up, with a little shiver. 
"Mammy, please put some mo' wood on de fire." 
Mammy glanced up quickly, then came to the small 
stove, and stirred the brands together till they crackled 
and blazed again. 
" Lex," she said, quietly, " I'm gwine out fer a little 
while. You an' Bess stay here an' 'have yerselves till I 
git back." 
Without further words, she drew a faded shawl over 
her head, and went out into the bleak night. 
