"No, mammy, you must help me. Bloody Jim is around here somewhere, and he's going to try to kill us all and burn the house. I've just sent daddy for father, and you had better call Sorrel Top. I'll get my pistols, and we'll secure the house."
"O, laws a mercy! how did you find it out, honey?"
"Wait 'till we are safe and I'll tell you."
"O, honey, did you tell daddy?"
"No."
"O, I'm awful glad, he'd be so flustrated you know."
"Yes, I know; now don't you get flustrated, and let it out quite yet, you had better tell Sorrel Top, though."
Sorrel Top was duly informed, and they all set to work, and had made what arrangements for their safety they could, when daddy returned.
"'Tween you and me, Honey, the Doctor can't come."
Little Wolf knew, by the expression on the old servant's face, why her father could not come, and she went up close to him, and whispered, "Is he very bad, daddy?"