Hesetdownhisgun，tookthepipeandquiteasslowlyanddeliberatelyhelookedatthewaitingband，atthechief，andthenraisedittohislips。
　　“`Whitesquawbrave！Heapmuchbrave！’saidthechief。
　　“`InthestrengthoftheLord。Amen！’saidfather。
　　“Thenhereachedhishandandthechieftookit，soIcamedowntheladderandstoodbesidefather，astheIndiansbegantofileinthefrontdoorandouttheback。Astheypassed，everymanofthemmadethepeacesignandpiledinaheap，venison，fish，andgame，whileeachsquawplayedwiththebabyandgavemeagiftofbeads，ametaltrinket，orablanketshehadwoven。Afterthattheycameoften，andbroughtgifts，andifprowlingGypsieswerepilfering，IcouldlooktoseeabigIndianloomupandseathimselfatmyfiresideuntilanydangerwaspast。IreallygotsoIlikedanddependedonthem，andfatherleftmeintheircarewhenhewenttomill，andIwassafeaswithhim。Youhaveheardthestoryoverandover，butto-dayisthetimetoimpressonyouthatanexhibitionlikeTHISistheveriestchild’splaycomparedwithwhatIhaveseenyourfatherdorepeatedly！“
　　“Butitwasyou，thechiefsaidwasbrave！“
　　Motherlaughed。
　　“Ihadtobe，baby，“shesaid。“Motherhadnochoice。There’sonlyonewaytodealwithanIndian。Ihadlivedamongthemallmylife，andIknewwhatmustbedone。“
　　“Ithinkbothofyouwerebrave，“Isaid，“you，thebravest！“
　　“Quitethecontrary，“laughedmother。“IshallhavetoconfessthatwhatIdidhappenedsoquicklyI’dnotimetothink。Ionlyrealizedthecoalredironwasmenacingthepapoosewhenitdrewbackandwhimpered。Fatherhadallnighttofacewhatwascomingtohim，anditwasnotonetoone，butonetoforty，withasmanymoresquaws，asgoodfightersasthebraves，tobackthem。ItwasaterrorbutIneverhavebeensorrywewentthroughittogether。Ihaverestedsosecurelyinyourfathereversince。“
　　“Andheisassafeinyou，“Iinsisted。
　　“Asyouwill，“saidmother。“Thisworldmusthaveherwomenquiteasmuchashermen。Itisshouldertoshoulder，hearttoheart，business。“
　　Theclamourinthemeadowaroseaboveourvoicesandbroughtusbacktothefoxes。
　　“Theregoesanother！“Isaid，thetearsbeginningtorollagain。
　　“Itisheathenishbusiness，“saidmother。“Idon’tblameyou！
　　Ifpeoplewerenottooshiftlesstocarefortheirstuff，thefoxeswouldn’ttaketheirchickensandgeese。Theynevergetours！“
　　“Hoodsaren’tshiftless！“Isobbed。
　　“Therearealwaysexceptions，“saidmother，“andtheyaretheexceptioninthiscase。“
　　ThedoorflewopenandLeonranin。Hewaswhitewithexcitement，andtrembling。
　　“Mother，comeandseemetakeafenceonPryor’sRocket！“hecried。
　　Motherhadhiminherarms。
　　“Youlittlewhiffet！“shesaid。“Youlittletow-hairedwhiffet！“
　　Bothofthemwerelaughingandcryingatthesametime，andsowasI。
　　“Isawyoutakeonefenceandthecreek，Weiscope！“shesaid，holdinghimtight，andstrokinghishair。“Thatwilldoforto-
　　day。Ridethehorsehomeslowly，rubitdowniftheywillallowyou，andbesuretorememberyourmannerswhenyouleave。Totrustsuchachildasyouwithsovaluableahorse，andforMr。
　　Pryortopersonallyridewithyouandhelpyou，Ithinkthatwasabigthingforamanlikehimtodo。“
　　“But，mother，he’sbeenshowingmeforweeks，orIcouldn’thavedoneitto-day。Itwasoursecrettosurpriseyou。WhenIgetmyhorse，I’llbeabletoridealittle，aswellasMr。Laddie。“
　　“Leon，don’t，“saidmother，grippinghimtighter。
　　“Youmustbearinmind，wordaboutthatmoneymaycomeanyday。“
　　“Aw，itwon’teither，“saidLeon，pullingaway。“Andsay，mother，thatdumb-bellwaslikecountryboysmakeinEngland。Hehelpedmehuntthewoodandshowedme，andIcouldn’trideandmanageit，sohehaditallday，andyoushouldhaveheardhimmakeitrip。Say，mother，takemyword，hewassomepumpkinsinEngland。IbetheorderedtheQueenaround，whenhewasthere！“
　　“Nodoubt！“laughedmother，kissinghimandpushinghimfromthedoor。
　　Somepeopleareneversatisfied。Afterthatsplendidridingandtheperfectday，father，Leon，andLaddiecamehomeblamingeveryone，andfindingfault，andtryingtoexplainhowithappened，thatthepeoplefromtheeastsideclaimedtwofoxes，andtherewasonlyoneleftforthewestside，whentheyhadseenandknewtheyhaddriventhreeformiles。TheysaidtheylosttheminourBigWoods。
　　Ididn’tcareonespeck。Iwouldasliefwearacalicodress，andletthelittlefoxeshavetheirmammiestofeedthem；andI
　　waswillingtobetallmymoneythatwewouldhaveasmuchham，andasmanygreensnextsummerasweeverhad。AndifthefoxestookHoods’Dorkingsagain，letthembuildacoopwithsafefoundations。Thewaywastousestoneandheapupdirtarounditinthefall，tobeperfectlysure，andmakeitwarmer。
　　Wetookcareofourchickensbecausewehadtohavethem。Alltheyearweneededthem，butmostespeciallyforEaster。Mothersaidthatwasordainedchickentime。TurkeysforThanksgiving，suckingpigsforChristmas，chickensforEaster，goose，shecouldn’tabide。Shethoughtitwastoostrong。Shesaidtheeggwasasymboloflife；ofawakening，ofbirth，andthechickenscamefromtheeggs，firstonesaboutEaster，sothatproveditwaschickentime。
　　IamgoingtoquitprayingaboutlittlethingsIcanmanagemyself。Fathersaidnoprayerwouldbringananswerunlessyoutookholdandpulledwithallyourbeingforwhatyouwanted。I
　　hadbeenintendingfordaystoasktheLordtohelpmefindwhereLeonhidhisEastereggs。Ithadbeenthelawatourhousefromtheveryfirst，thatforthelastmonthbeforeEaster，asidefromwhatmotherhadtohaveforthehouse，allofusmightgathereveryeggwecouldfindandkeepthemuntilEaster。Ifwecouldlocatethehidingplaceofanyoneelse，wemighttakealltheirs。ThedaybeforeEastertheywerebroughtin，motherputasidewhatsherequired，andtheonewhohadthemostgottosellallofthemandtakethemoney。Sometimesthereweretwowashtubsfull，andwhattheybroughtwasworthhaving，forsure。
　　Sowewatchedallyearforsafeplaces，andwhenthetimecamewealmostranafterthehenswithabasket。BecauseLaddieandLeonwerebiggertheycouldoutrunus，andlotsofhenslaidinthebarn，sotheretheboysalwayshadfirstchance。Oftenduringthemonthwewouldfindandtakeeachother’seggsadozentimes。
　　Wedividedthem，andhidpartindifferentplaces，sothatifeitherwerefoundtherewouldstillbesomeleft。
　　Laddiehadhisinthehopperoftheciderpressrightonthethreshingfloor，andashewassuretogetmorethanIhadanyway，Iusuallyputminewithhis。Mayhadherssomeplace，andwhereLeonhadhis，noneofuscouldfindorimagine。I
　　almostlayawakeofnightstryingtothink，andeverytimeI
　　thoughtofanewplace，thenextdayIwouldlook，andtheywouldn’tbethere。ThreedaysbeforeEaster，motherbegantocookandgetthebigdinnerready，andsheranshortofeggs。
　　Shetoldmetogotothebarnandtelltheboysthateachofthemmustsendheradozenasquicklyastheycould。Ofcoursethatwasfair，ifshemadebothgiveupthesamenumber。SoIwenttothebarn。
　　Thelanewasmuddy，andasIhadbeensick，Iworemyrubbersthatspring。Ithoughttokeepoutofthedeepmud，wherehorsesandcattletrampled，I’dgoupthefrontembankment，andenterthelittledoor。Myfeetmadenosound，anditsohappenedthatthedoordidn’teither，andasIstartedtoopenit。IsawLeondisappearingdownthestairway，withabigsackonhisback。I
　　thoughtitwascornforthehorses，andfollowedhim，buthewenttothecowstabledoorandstartedtowardthelane，andthenI
　　thoughtitwasforthepigs，soIcalledLaddieandtoldhimabouttheeggs。Hesaidhe’dgivemetwodozenofhis，andLeoncouldpayhimback。Wewenttogethertogetthem，andtherewasonlyonethere。
　　Wasn’tthatexactlylikeLeon？LeaveONEforthenestegg！Ifheweredyingandsawajokeoratrick，he’dstoptoplayitbeforehefinished，ifhepossiblycould。Ifhehadnotimeatall，thenhe’dgowithhiseyestwinklingoverthethoughtsofthefunitwouldhavebeenifhepossiblycouldhavemanagedit。
　　Ofcoursewhenwesawthatonelonelyeggintheciderhopper，justexactlylikethe“LastRoseofSummer，lefttopineonthestem，“IthoughtofthesackLeoncarried，andknewwhathadbeeninit。Wehurriedoutandtriedtofindhim，buthewasswallowedup。Youcouldn’tseehimorhearasoundofhimanywhere。
　　Motherwasascrossassheevergets。Rightthereshemadeanewrule，anditwasthattwodozeneggsmustbebroughttothehouseeachday，whetheranywerehiddenornot。Shehadtostopbakinguntilshegoteggs。Shesaidafewtimesshehadusedagooseeggincustard。Icouldfixthat。Iknewwhereoneofourgraygeesehadanest，andifshe’dcookanygooseegg，itwouldbeagrayone。OfcourseIhadsenseenoughnottotakeablueone。
　　SoIslippedfromtheeastdoor，crossedtheyardandorchardcorner，climbedthefenceandwentdownthelane。Therewasthecreekupandtearing。Itwashalfoverthemeadow，andthefloodgatebetweenthepastureandthelanerockedwiththerushofwater；still，IbelievedIcouldmakeit。SoIgotonthefenceandwithmyfeetonthethirdrail，andholdingbythetopone，Iwalkedsidewise，andsogoingreachedthefloodgate。Itwasprettywobbly，butIthoughtIcouldcrossontherun。I
　　knewIcouldifIdaredjumpattheotherend；buttherethewaterwasoverthethirdrail，andthatmeantabovemyhead。
　　Itwasrightatthattimeofspringwhenyoufeltsogoodyouthoughtyoucoulddomostanything，exceptfly——Itriedthatonce——soIwenton。Theairwascoldforallthesunshone，thesmellofcatkinpollen，burstingbuds，andtheodourofearthsteaminginthesun，wasineverybreath；theblackbirdswerecalling，andthedoves；theganderslookedlonginglyattheskyandscreamedacalltoeverypassingwildflock，andDeams’
　　roosterwantedtofightallcreation，ifyoujudgedbytheboastinghewasdoingfromtheirbarnyardgate。Hemademethinkofeggs，soIsetmyjaws，lookedstraightahead，andscootedacrossthefloodgatetothepostthathelditandtherailsofthemeadowfence。Imadeittoo，andthenthefencewaseasy，onlyIhadtodoublequiteshort，becausethewaterwasoverthethirdrailthere，butatlastitwasallgone，andIwenttothefencecornerandtherewasthegooseonthenest，layinganegg。
　　Shehadbuiltonalittlehighplace，amongpuddles，wildrosebushes，andthorns，andtheoldthingwouldn’tgetoff。Shejustsatthereandstuckoutherheadandhissedandhissed。Inevernoticedbeforethatgeeseweresobigandsoaggravating。I
　　wasn’tgoingtogiveup，afterthatfloodgate，soIhuntedabigstick，setitagainstherwing，pushedheroffandgrabbedthreeeggsandran。WhenIgottothefence，Iwasinapickleforsure。Ididn’tknowwhatintheworldtodowiththeeggs。
　　AtlastIunbuttonedmycoat，puttheminmyapronfront，gathereditup，andholdingitbetweenmyteeth，startedback。I
　　hadtodoublemorethaneveronaccountoftheeggs，andwhenI
　　reachedthefloodgateitrockedlikeabranchinthewind；butI
　　hadtogetback，soIrestedandlistenedtothelarksawhile。
　　Thatwasagoodplan。Theywerecallingformates，andwhattheysaidwassoperfectlylovely，youcouldn’tthinkofanythingelse；andthelessyouthoughtabouthowthatgaterocked，andhowdeepandswiftthewaterran，thebetterforyou。Atlastonelarkwentalmostfromsightandherang，twistedandtrilledhiscall，untilmyheartswelledsobigithurt。Icrossedonthejumpwithnotimetothinkatall。Thatwasafineplan，forImadeit，butIhitthepostsohardIbrokethemiddleegg。I
　　wasgoingtothrowitaway，buttherewassomuchstarchinmyapronitheldlikeadish，andithadbeencleanthatmorning，nowtheeggsoileditanyway，soIranandgothomeallright。
　　Motherwassopleasedabouttheeggsshechangedtheapronandneversaidaword，excepttobragonme。Shesaidshecouldn’tkeephousewithoutme，andIguessthatwasafact。Icameinhandyalotoftimes。Butatdinnerwhenshescoldedtheboysabouttheeggs，andtoldthemIbroughtthegooseeggsforhercustard，elsetherewouldhavebeennopie，fatherbrokeloose，andIthoughthewasgoingtowhipmesure。Hetoldmotherallaboutthewaterandthegate，andhowIhadtocross，andhesaid，`itwasadispensationofProvidencethatwedidn’thaveafuneralinsteadofcelebratingEaster，’soIsaid：
　　“Well，ifyouthinkIcamesoneardrowningmyself，whenyourejoicebecauseChristisrisenfromthedead，youcanbegladI
　　amtoo，andthatwillmakeitallthebetter。“
　　Theboyslaughed，butfathersaiditwasnolaughingmatter。I
　　thinkthatspeechsavedmefromgoingonthethreshingfloor，forhetookmeonhislapwhenIthoughtI’dhavetogo，andtoldmenever，nevertodoanythinglikethatagain，andthenhehuggedmeuntilIalmostbroke。Gracious！Heshouldhaveseenusgoingtoschoolsomedays。Why，weevenwalkedthetoprailwhenitwastheonlyoneabovewater，andwecouldcrossthebridgeifwewantedto。AtleastwhenLaddieorMissAmeliawasnotaround，wedid。
　　Leonwassoburstingfullhescarcelycouldeat，andLaddielookedprettyglumwhenhehadtoadmithehadnoeggs；soLaddiehadtohandoverthewholetwodozen。Leondidn’tmindthat，buthesaidifhemust，thenallofusshouldstayinthedining-roomuntilhebroughtthem，becauseofcoursehecouldn’twalkstraightandgettheminbroaddaylightwithuswatching，andnotshowwheretheywere。Fathersaidthatwasfair，soLeonwentoutandbeforesoverylonghecamebackwiththeeggs。
　　Ithoughtuntilmyskullalmostcracked，aboutwhereheCOULD
　　havegone，andIwasalmosttotheplacewherethethingseemedseriousenoughthatI’dasktheLordtohelpmefindLaddie’seggs，whenmothersentmetothegarretforredonionskins。Shehadanhourtorest，andshewasgoingtospenditfixingdecorationsforoureggs。Ofcoursetherewerealwaysredandblackanilineones，andyellowandblue，butnoneofuseverlikethemhalfsowellasthosemothercoloured，herself。
　　Shetookthedarkredskinsandcutboys，girls，dogs，cats，stars，flowers，butterflies，fish，andeverythingimaginable，andwettheskinsalittleandlaidthemonverywhiteeggsthathadbeensoakedinalumwatertocutthegrease，andthenwrappedlightyellowskinsover，andthendarkerones，andatlastlayerafterlayerofcloth，andwetthat，androastedthemanhourinhotashesandthenletthemcoolanddry，beforeunwrapping。
　　Whenshetookthemout，rubbedonalittlegreaseandpolishedthem——theretheywere！Theywouldhaveournames，flowers，birds，animals，allinpaleyellow，deeprichbrown，almostred，andperfectlybeautifulcolours，whileyoucouldhuntandhuntbeforeyoufoundeverythingononeegg。Andsometimestheonionskinsslipped，andmadethingsofthemselvesthatsheneverputon。
　　IwascomingfromthebinwithanapronfullofskinsandI
　　almostfellover。Icouldn’tbreatheforalongtime。Idancedonmytoes，andheldmymouthtokeepfromscreaming。Onthegarretfloorbeforemelayalittlepieceofwetmud，andthefaintestoutlineofaboot，abootaboutLeon’ssize。ThatwasallIneededtoknow。AssoonasIcouldholdsteady，Itooktheskinstomother，slippedbackandhuntedgood；andofcourseI
　　hadtofindthem——grainsackshalffullofthem——carriedinthefrontdoorintheevening，andupthefrontstairs，wherenoonewentuntilbedtime，unlesstherewerecompany。Awaybackundertheeaves，acrossthejoists，behindtheoldclothingwaitingtoberipped，colouredandtornforcarpetrangsandrugs，Mr。Leonhadalmosteveryeggthathadbeenlaidontheplaceforamonth。
　　NOWhe’dseewhathe’dgetfortakingLaddie’s！
　　ThenIstoppedshort。WhatIthoughtmostmademesick，butI
　　didn’tproposetolieinbedagainforayearatleast，forithaditsbadpartsaswellasitsgood；soIwentstraightandwhisperedtoLaddie。Heneverlookedpleasedatall，soIknewI
　　hadbeenright。Hekissedme，andthankedme，andthensaidslowly：“It’smightygoodofyou，LittleSister，butyouseeitwouldn’tbeFAIR。Hefoundminehimself，sohehadarighttotakethem。ButIdon’tdaretouchhis，whenyoutellmewheretheyare。IneverinamonthofSundayswouldhavelookedfortheminthehouse。Iwasgoingtosearchthewoodhouseandsmokehousethisafternoon。Ican’ttakethem。Butthankyoujustasmuch。“
　　ThenIwenttofatherandhelaughed。Howhedidlaugh！
　　“Laddieisright！“hesaidatlast。“Hedidn’tfindthem，andhemustn’ttakethem。Butyoumay！They’reyours！ThatfrontdoorschemeofLeon’swasfairlywell，butitwasn’tquitegoodenough。Ifhe’dcleanedhisfeetasheshould，beforehecrossedmother’scarpetandclimbedthestairs，he’dhavemadeitallright。`Histracksbetrayedhim，’astracksdoallofus，ifwearecarelessenoughtoleaveany。Theeggsareyours，andto-
　　nightisthetimetoproducethem。Wheredoyouwanttohidethem？“
　　Wellofallthings！andafterIhadstumbledonthemwithoutpesteringtheLord，either！Justasslickasanything！Mine！I
　　nevereverthoughtofit。ButwhenIdidthink，Ilikedit。ThemoreIthought，thefunnieritgrew。
　　“Undermother’sbed，“Iwhispered。“ButInevercangetthem。
　　They’reinwheatsacks，andfullsohigh，andthey’llhavetobehandledlikeeggs。“
　　“I’lldothecarrying，“laughedfather。“Comeshowme！“
　　Sowetookallthoseeggs，andputthemundermother’sbed。
　　OfcoursesheandCandacesawus，buttheydidn’thunteggsandthey’dnevertell。IfeverIthoughtI’dburstwideopen！AboutduskIsawLeoncomingfromthebarncarryinghishatathisside——moreeggs——soIranlikeastreakandlockedthefrontdoor，andthenslippedbackinthedining-roomandalmostscreamed，whenIcouldhearhimtryingit，andhecouldn’tgetin。Afterawhilehecamein，fussedaround，andfinallywentintothesitting-room，andthekeyturnedandhewentupstairs。