PEESCHEE'S MAP AGAIN, 315 
I'm alone in the world. No one will care when I go, 
any way ! " — the man faltered a little. 
Oh, Solomon ! " cried Floss, slipping her little hand 
into his, " you mustn't talk so ! We all love you 
dearly ! " 
" I know, I know," said Solomon, " an', as fer you. Miss 
Floss, I b'lieve I couldn't think more of ye ef you wus 
my very own darter. But, however that may be, I'm the 
fust man to go on that hunt. The Injuns shall go too, ef 
they will. They're lonesome, roamin' critters like me, 
and mout's well be off in the woods as sozzlin' over the 
fire here 't home." 
" When shall you start?" asked Mrs. Button. "Oh, 
those wolves ! " she added, nervously. " I do wish they'd 
stop that dreadful howling ! " 
" Can't afford to waste lead on 'em, or I'd drive 'em 
off fer a while. I shall start as soon as it's light enough 
to see." 
" Papa," said Nat, holding up a piece of paper, "' what 
is this ? It was sticking on to that largest piece of meat 
you brought in." 
Mr. Button glanced at it carelessly, as he took it. 
" It's Peeschee's map," he said. " Would to God he 
had never made it ! " he added, bitterly. 
Solomon too had observed the map, as the little fellow 
held it. 
A sudden thought, or remembrance, seemed to strike 
him. 
