guessthenitwassorryitevertookpeople’sham，andtheirgreens，andtheirblankets；anditcouldseeandhearthatithadnochance——tosaveitsskin。
“OhLord！DearLord！Helpme！“Iprayed。
Ithadtobeme，therewasnooneelse。Ineverhadopenedthebigdoors；Ithoughtittookaman，butwhenIpushedwithallmymight——andmaybeifthehairsofourheadswerenumbered，andthesparrowscounted，therewouldbealittlemercyforthefoxes——I
askedforhelp；maybeIgotit。Thedoorswentback，andI
climbeduptheladdertothehaymowafewstepsandclungthere，prayingwithallmymight：“Makethemcomein！DearLord，makethemcomein！Givethemachance！Helpthemtosavetheirskins，OLord！“
Withawhizzandaflashonewentpastme，skimmedtheciderpress，andrushedacrossthehay；thentheother。IfelltothefloorandthenextthingIknewthedoorswereshut，andIwasbackatmyplace。Ijustwentdowninaheapandleanedagainstthewallandshook，andthenIlaughedandsaid：“Thankyou，Lord！Thankyouforhelpingwiththedoor！Andthefoxes！Thebeautifullittleredandwhitefoxes！They’vegottheirchance！
They’llsavetheirskins！They’llgetbacktotheirholesandtheirbabies！PraisetheLord！“
IknewwhenIheardthatcomeout，thatitwasexactlylikemyfathersaiditwhenAmosHurdwasredeemed。Ineverknewfathertosayitsoimpressivelybefore，becauseAmoshadbeensobad，peoplereallywereafraidofhim，andfathersaidifoncehegotstartedright，hewouldgoatitjustashardashehadgoneatwrongdoing。IsupposeIshouldn’thavesaiditaboutafox，whenthereweretheDorkings，andham，andwhitewooldresses，andallthat，buthonestly，Icouldn’trememberthatIcaredparticularlywhetherAmosHurdwasredeemedornot；hewasalwayslovelytochildren；whileIneverinallmylifehadwantedanythingworsethanIwantedthosefoxestosavetheirskins。Icouldhearthempantlikerunoutdogs；andIcouldhearmyself，andIhadn’tbeendrivenfrommyhomeandbabies，maybe——andchasedmilesandmiles，either。
ThenIjustshook。Theycamepounding，roaringandbrayingrightaroundthebarn，anddownthelane。Thelittledoorflewopenandastrangemanstuckinhishead。
“Shutthatdoor！“Iscreamed。“You’lllettheminonme，andtheybite！They’repoison！They’llkillme！“
Ihadn’teventhoughtofitbefore。
“Seeanyfoxes？“criedtheman。
“Twocrossedourbarnyardheadedthatway！“Icriedback，pointingeast。“Shutthedoor！“
Themancloseditandrancallingashewent：“It’sallright！
Theycrossedthebarnyard。We’vegotthem！“
Ibegantodanceandbeatmyhands，andthenIstoppedandheldmybreath。Theywerepassing，andthenoisewasdreadful。Theystruckthesidesofthebarn，pokedaroundthestrawstack，andsomethingmademelookup，andattheedgeofthehaystoodafoxreadytospring。Ifitdid，itwouldgofromthedoor，rightintothemidstthereof。Nothingbutmyredhoodsailingstraightatit，andayellIhave，droveitback。Noonehitthebarnagain，thelineclosedup，andwentonatarunnow，theyweresoanxioustomeetandseewhattheyhad。ThencamethebeatofhoofsandIsawthatalltheridershaddroppedback，andwerebehindthelineofpeopleonfoot。IwatchedLaddieasheflewpastwavingtome，andIgrabbedmyscarftowaveathim。ThePrincessflashedbysoswiftlyIcouldn’tseehowshelooked，andthenIheardavoiceIknewcry：“Ep！Ep！OverLad！“AndI
almostfelldeadwhereIstood。Mr。Pryorsailedrightoverthebarnyardfenceintothecornfield，rippingthatdumb-bellashewent，andneckandneck，evenwithhim，ononeofhisfinesthorses，wasourLeon。Hisfeetwereinthestirrups，hehadthereinstight，healmoststoodashearose，hisfacewascrimson，hisheadbare，hiswhitehairflying，thegrandestsightyoueversaw。AtthetopofmyvoiceIscreamedafterthem，“Ep！Ep！
Overlad！“andthenrememberedandlookedtoseeifIhadtochasebackthefoxes，buttheydidn’tmindonlyme，afterwhattheyhadbeenthrough。ThenIsatdownsuddenlyagain。
Well！Whatwouldfatherthinkofthat！Leonkillahorseofoursindeed！TherehewasononeofMr。Pryor’s，worthasmuchassixoffather’snodoubt，flyingoverfences，andthecreekwascoming，andthebankwassteepbehindthebarn。Iwasupagainstrainingtosee。
“Ep！Ep！Over！“rangthecry。
Theretheywent！LaddieandthePrincesstoo。I’llneverspendanothercentonpaperdolls，candy，raisins，ororanges。I’llgiveallIhavetohelpLeonbuyhishorse；thenI’mgoingtobeginsavingformine。
Thelineclosedup，asolidwallofmenwithsticks，clubsandguns；thedogsrangedoutside，andthoseonhorsebackstoppedwheretheycouldseebest；andinside，racedbackandforth，androundandround，livingcreatures。Icouldn’tcounttheymovedso，butevenatthatdistanceIcouldseethatsomewerepoorlittlecottontails。Thescaredthings！Awhackoverthehead，abackwardtoss，andthedogsweremouthingthem。Thelongtailed，sleek，gracefullymovingones，theywerefoxes，thefoxesdrivenfromtheirholes，andnothingonearthcouldsavetheirskinsforthemnow；thosemenmeanttohavethem。
Ipulledthedoorsshutsuddenly。IwassosickIcouldscarcelystand。Ihadtowork，butatlastIpushedthewestdoorsopenagain。Idon’tthinktheLordhelpedmeanythattime，forI
knewwhatittook——before，theyjustwent。OrmaybeHedidhelpmequiteasmuch，butIhadharderworktodomyshare，becauseI
feltsodizzyandill。Anyway，theyopened。ThenIclimbedtheuprightladdertothetopbeam，walkedittothegranary，andthereIdanced，poundedandyelledsothatthefoxesjumpedfromthehay，leapedlightlytothethreshingfloor，andstoodlookingandlistening。Igavethemtimetohearwherethedreadfulracketwas，andthenIjumpedtothehayandthrewthepitchforkatthem。Itcamedownsmash！andbothofthemsprangfromthedoor。WhenIgotdowntheladderandwhereIcouldsee，theyweresorestedtheywerehikingacrossthecornfieldliketheyneverhadracedastepbefore；andastheclamourwentupbehindme，thatprobablymeantthefirstfoxhadlostitsbeautifulredandwhiteskin，theyreachedourwoodsinsafety。Thedoorswentshuteasier，andIstartedtothehousecryinglikeanyblubberingbaby；butwhenmotherturnedfromtheeastwindow，andInoticedherface，Iforgotthefoxes。
“YousawLeon！“Icried。
“ThatIdid！“sheexulted，rockingonhertoesthesameasshedoesattheMeetingHousewhensheisgoingtocry，“Glory！“anyminute。“ThatIdid！Ah！thebravelittlechap！Ah！thefinefellow！“
Hercheeksweretheloveliestpink，andhereyesblazed。I
scarcelyknewher。
“Whatwillfathersay？“
“Ifhisfatherisn’teveryparticleasproudofhimasIamthisday，I’veabigdisappointmentcoming，“sheanswered。“IfMr。
Pryorchosetolethimtakethatfinehorse，andtaughthimhowtorideit，fathershouldbeglad。“
“Ifhe’dgoneintothecreek，youwouldn’tfeelsofine。“
“Ah！buthedidn’t！Hedidn’t！Hestucktothesaddleandsailedoverinonegrand，longsweep！Itwasfine！Ihope——tomysoul，Ihopehisfathersawit！“
“Hedid！“Isaid。“Hedid！Hewasabouthalfwaydownthelane。
Hewaswherehecouldseefine。“
“Youdidn’tnotice——？“
“IwaswatchingifLeonwentunder。Whatifhehad，mother？“
“They’dhavetakenhimout，andbroughthimtome，andI’dhaveworkedwithallthestrengthandskillGodhasgivenme，andifitwerepossibletous，hewouldbesaved，andifitwerenot，itwouldbeaproudmomentforawomantoofferaboylikethattotheGodwhogavehim。Onewouldhavenothingtobeashamedof！“
“Couldyoudoit，likeyouarenow，andnotcry，mother？“Iaskedwonderingly。
“Patienceno！“saidshe。“Beforelongyouwillfindout，child，thatthefountainheadoftearsandlaughterliesinthesamespot，deepinawoman’sheart。Menweremadeforbigthings！
Theymustbravethewildanimals，theIndians，fightthebattles，ridetheraces，tillthefields，buildthehomes。InthemakingofanewcountrymenmusthavethethingintheirsoulsthatcarriedLeonacrossthecreek。Ifhehadcheckedthathorseandgonetotheford，IwouldhavefallenwhereIstood！“
“Fathercrossedtheford！“
“True！Butthat’sdifferent。Heneverhadachanceatahorselikethat！Heneverhadtimeforfancypractice，andhisnosewouldhavebeenbetweenthepagesofabookifhehad。Butrememberthis！Yourfather’shandhasneverfaltered，andhisaimhasneverfailed。Allofusarehere，safeandcomfortable，throughhim。Itwasyourfatherwholedusacrossthewilderness，andfendedfromusthewildcat，wolf，andIndian。Hebuiltthishouse，clearedthisland，andgavetoallofusthethingwelove。Getthisinyourheadstraight。Yourfatherrodeaplowhorse；henevertriedflourishesinriding；butnomancanstickinthesaddlelonger，rideharder，andfaceanydangerwithcalmerfront。Ifyouthinkthisisanything，youshouldhaveseenhisfacethedayhestoodbetweenmeandabandofIndians，wehadeveryreasontothink，Ihadangeredtothefightingpoint。“
“Tellme！Pleasetellme！“Ibegged。
Allofushadbeenbroughtuponthatstory，butwewerecrazytohearit，andmotherlovedtotellit，soshedroppedonachairandbegan：
“WewerealoneinacabininthebackwoodsofOhio。Elizabethwasonlyninemonthsold，andfatheralwayssaidamitetheprettiestofanybabyweeverhad。Manyoftheothershavelookedquiteaswelltome，butshewasthefirst，andhewassoproudofherhealwayswantedmetowaitinthewagonuntilhehitchedthehorses，sohewouldgettotakeandtocarryherhimself。Well，shewasinthecradle，cooingandlaughing，andI
hadmyworkalldone，andcabinshining。Iwasheatingabigpokerred-hot，andburningholesintothefourcornersofaboardsofathercouldputlegsinittomakemeabench。Agreasyoldsquawcametothedoorwithherpapooseonherback。Shewantedtotradeberriesforbread。Therewereberrieseverywhereforthepicking；IhadmoredriedthanIcoulduseintwoyears。Weplantedonlyalittlepatchofwheatandfatherhadtoridethreedaystocarrytomillwhathecouldtakeonahorse。Ibakedinanoutovenandwhenitwasdone，aloafofwhitebreadwasbyfarthemostpreciousthingwehadtoeat。SometimesIwascaught，andforcedtoletitgo。OftenIbakedduringthenightandhidthebreadinthewheatatthebarn。TherewasnoneinthecabinthatdayandIsaidso。Shedidn’tbelieveme。Shesetherpapooseonthefloorbesidethefireplace，andwenttothecupboard。Therewasn’tacrumbthereexceptcornbread，andshedidn’twantthat。Shesaid：`Brod！Brod！’
“ShelearnedthatfromtheGermansinthesettlement。Ishookmyhead。Thenshepulledoutabigsteelhuntingknife，suchasthewhitestradedtotheIndianssotheywouldhavenotroubleinscalpingusneatly，andwalkedtothecradle。Shetookthatknifelooselybetweenherthumbandsecondfingerandholdingitdirectlyabovemybaby’sface，sheswungitlightlybackandforthanddemanded：`Brod！Brod！’
“Iftheknifefell，itwouldgostraightthroughmybaby’shead，andElizabethwasreachingherlittlehandsandlaughing。Therewasonlyonethingtodo，andIdidit。Icaughtthatred-hotpokerfromthefire，andstuckitsocloseherbaby’sface，thatthepapoosedrewbackandwhimpered。Iscarcelysawhowshesnatcheditupandleft。Whenyourfathercame，Itoldhim，andwedidn’tknowwhattodo。Weknewshewouldcomebackandbringherband。Ifwewerenotthere，theywouldburnthecabin，ruinourcrops，killourstock，takeeverythingwehad，andwecouldn’ttravelsofar，orsofast，thatontheirponiestheycouldn’tovertakeus。Weendangeredanyonewithwhomwesoughtrefuge，sowegrippedhands，kneltdownandtoldtheLordallaboutit，andwefelttheanswerwastostay。Fathercleanedthegun，andhoursandhourswewaited。
“Aboutteno’clockthenextdaytheycame，fortybravesinwarpaintandfeathers。IcounteduntilIwastoosicktosee，thenItookthebabyinmyarmsandclimbedtotheloft，withourbigsteelknifeinonehand。Ifyourfatherfell，Iwastouseit，firstonElizabeth，thenonmyself。TheIndiansstoppedatthewoodyard，andthechiefofthebandcametothedoor，alone。
Yourfathermethimwithhisguninreach，andforawholeeternitytheystoodsearchingeachother’seyes。IwasatthetrapdoorwhereIcouldseebothofthem。
“TothedepthsofmysoulIenjoyedseeingLeontakethefenceandcreek：butwhatwasthat，child，tocomparewiththetimberthatstoodyourfatherlikeastonewallbetweenmeandfortyhalf-naked，paintbesmeared，maddenedIndians？Don’tletanyshowingthemenofto-daycanmakesetyoutothinkingthatfatherisn’takingamongmen。Notonce，butagainandagaininearlierdays，hefendeddangerfrommelikethat。Icanshutmyeyesandseehiswavinghair，hiswhitebrow，hissteelblueeyes，hisunfalteringhand。Idon’trememberthatIhadtimeoreventhoughttopray。Igrippedthebaby，andtheknife，andwaitedforthethingImustdoifanarroworashotsailedpastthechiefandfelledfather。Theystoodsecondaftersecond，liketwowoodenmen，andthenslowlyanddeliberatelythechieflightedhisbigpipe，drewafewpuffsandhandedittofather。