"Poacher," she said, in a firm voice, "come here. You're mos' as unhappy as I be—we'll be unhappy together."
The suffering animal moved slowly toward her, and laid his head on her lap.
There were tears in his eyes, and the little girl groaned as she wiped them away.
[CHAPTER XII.]
FAREWELL TO THE POACHERS.
Lucas was ready to start, and 'Tilda Jane and the boys stood in the doorway watching him tie on his snow-shoes.
"Now, sons," he said, straightening himself up and drawing on his woollen mittens, "I'm goin' one way an' you another, but if ye act contrairy an' pouty to that leetle gal, I'll know it, for she's goin' to write me, an' if there's any complaint, there'll be such a wallopin' as these ones this mornin' would be a shadder an' a dream to."
His lecture over, he looked over his shoulder and narrowly inspected the faces of his two boys. They were reserved, almost expressionless. It might be a month before he saw them again. He forgot 'Tilda Jane for an instant, "Sons—ye know yer pop loves ye, don't ye?"