Chapter 20

"Sir, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred in a book, he
hath not eaten paper, as it were; he hath not drunk ink: his intellect
is not replenished; he is only an animal--only sensible in the duller
parts."

Love's Labor Lost.

"Here cometh Faith, to bring us tidings of the hamlet," said the husband
of the woman whose character we have so feebly sketched, as he took his
seat in the piazza, at the early hour and in the group already mentioned.
"The Ensign hath been abroad in the hills, throughout the night, with a
chosen party of our people; and perchance she hath been sent with the
substance that they have gathered, concerning the unknown trail."

"The heavy-footed Dudley hath scarce mounted to the dividing ridge, where
report goeth the prints of moccasons were seen," observed a young man, who
in his person bore all the evidences of an active and healthful manhood.
"Of what service is the scouting that faileth of the necessary distance
by the weariness of its leader?"

"If thou believest, boy, that thy young foot is equal to contend with the
sinews of Eben Dudley, there may be occasion to show the magnitude of thy
error, ere the danger of this Indian out-breaking shall pass away. Thou
art too stubborn of will, Mark, to be yet trusted with the leading of
parties that may hold the safety of all who dwell in the Wish-Ton-Wish
within their keeping."

The young man looked displeased; but, fearful that his father might
observe and misinterpret his humor into a personal disrespect, he turned
away, permitting his frowning eye to rest, for an instant, on the timid
and stolen glance of a maiden, whose cheek was glowing like the eastern
sky, as she busied herself with the preparations of the table.

"What welcome news dost bring from the sign of the Whip-poor-Will?"
Content asked of the woman, who had now come within the little gate of his
court. "Hast seen the Ensign, since the party took the hill-paths; or is
it some traveller who hath charged thee with matter for our ears?"

"Eye of man hath not seen the man since he girded himself with the sword
of office," returned Faith, entering the piazza and nodding salutation to
those around her; "and as for strangers, when the clock shall strike noon,
it will be one month to the day that the last of them was housed within my
doors. But I complain not of the want of custom, as the Ensign would never
quit the bar and his gossip, to go into the mountain-lots, so long as
there was one to fill his ears with the marvels of the old countries, or
even to discourse of the home-stirrings of the colonies themselves."

"Thou speakest lightly, Faith,