It will be remembered that Clancy had not heard of Vinnie’s adventures and perils of the day before; and he did not understand the conversation that the others had kept up for the past few minutes. Noting the questioning look on his face, the woodman said:
“There is still another story of peril and escape that you are yet to hear. I believe I will take a short bout in the forest in search of a turkey; and if I am successful we’ll have a supper fit for the President. Vinnie can tell you the story while I am gone. Be sure you don’t leave out any of the important points, and don’t forget to mention your lover’s visit yesterday. A truthful account of the shocking manner in which you treated him ought to be a caution to sparks! If I was a young fellow, now—”
“There now! stop!” said Vinnie, with a vivid blush. “I think you’re really too bad! And besides, you are not fit to go out to-day, after your hurt, and—”
“That will do,” interrupted Darke, banteringly, examining the lock of his rifle the while. “I am well enough for any thing now, and I mean to take just this one more hunt while I’ve an opportunity. I dare not leave you here any more alone, you know, and I’m going while I’ve got Clancy here to keep guard over you! So good-by, and don’t think of my coming back for two hours at the very soonest!”
She went up to him for her customary kiss.
“There,” said he, as he bent and pressed his lips to hers. “Good-by, little one. And, Clancy, I want you to see that no one repeats this operation during my absence. She’s all I’ve got, and I leave her in your care. Don’t forget the story, Vinnie!” And a moment later he passed out, closely followed by the blood-hound. Vinnie seized hold of one of the great brute’s long ears, and bending low over him, to hide her flushed face from Clancy’s view, said, playfully:
“There, Death, don’t run away from him as you did from me yesterday!”
Then, while the young hunter thought she was putting herself to a great deal of useless trouble, considering that the room was very warm already, she went and busied herself at the hearth, for what seemed to him a very long time, stirring the fire and putting on more wood.
“What story does your father mean?” he asked, when she had at last finished. “I thought from what you said that you saw the dwarf when he was carrying me to the cave. It can not be that you were out in that terrible storm?”
“But I was,” said Vinnie, with a smile, “and I half think I was the victim of almost as serious a series of accidents as yourself. Papa told me to tell you the story, and I suppose I must obey. Are you sure it will be of interest to you?”