"At least I hope it will be good to sleep in this night," the woman answered, yawning. "Dreamland is now the only country I care for."
The ladies and children, being near spent by the day's travel and excitement, turned in soon after supper. The men slept on their blankets, by the fire, and were up before daylight for a dip in the creek near by. While they were getting breakfast, the women and children had their turn at the creekside.
That day the released captives were in better spirits. Soon after noon the company came to a swollen river where the horses had some swimming to do. The older animals and the following colts went through all right, but the young stallion which Jack and Margaret were riding, began to rear and plunge. The girl in her fright jumped off his back in swift water and was swept into the rapids and tumbled about and put in some danger before Jack could dismount and bring her ashore.
"You have increased my debt to you," she said, when at last they were mounted again. "What a story this is! It is terribly exciting."
"Getting into deeper water," said Jack. "I'm not going to let you spoil it by drowning."
"I wonder what is coming next," said she.
"I don't know. So far it's as good as Robinson Crusoe."
"With a book you can skip and see what happens," she laughed. "But we shall have to read everything in this story. I'd love to know all about you."
He told her with boyish frankness of his plans which included learning and statesmanship and a city home. He told also of his adventures in the forest with his father.
Meanwhile, the elder John Irons and Mrs. Hare were getting acquainted as they rode along. The woman had been surprised by the man's intimate knowledge of English history and had spoken of it.