Hesetdownhisgun，tookthepipeandquiteasslowlyanddeliberatelyhelookedatthewaitingband，atthechief，andthenraisedittohislips。
“`Whitesquawbrave！Heapmuchbrave！’saidthechief。
“`InthestrengthoftheLord。Amen！’saidfather。
“Thenhereachedhishandandthechieftookit，soIcamedowntheladderandstoodbesidefather，astheIndiansbegantofileinthefrontdoorandouttheback。Astheypassed，everymanofthemmadethepeacesignandpiledinaheap，venison，fish，andgame，whileeachsquawplayedwiththebabyandgavemeagiftofbeads，ametaltrinket，orablanketshehadwoven。Afterthattheycameoften，andbroughtgifts，andifprowlingGypsieswerepilfering，IcouldlooktoseeabigIndianloomupandseathimselfatmyfiresideuntilanydangerwaspast。IreallygotsoIlikedanddependedonthem，andfatherleftmeintheircarewhenhewenttomill，andIwassafeaswithhim。Youhaveheardthestoryoverandover，butto-dayisthetimetoimpressonyouthatanexhibitionlikeTHISistheveriestchild’splaycomparedwithwhatIhaveseenyourfatherdorepeatedly！“
“Butitwasyou，thechiefsaidwasbrave！“
Motherlaughed。
“Ihadtobe，baby，“shesaid。“Motherhadnochoice。There’sonlyonewaytodealwithanIndian。Ihadlivedamongthemallmylife，andIknewwhatmustbedone。“
“Ithinkbothofyouwerebrave，“Isaid，“you，thebravest！“
“Quitethecontrary，“laughedmother。“IshallhavetoconfessthatwhatIdidhappenedsoquicklyI’dnotimetothink。Ionlyrealizedthecoalredironwasmenacingthepapoosewhenitdrewbackandwhimpered。Fatherhadallnighttofacewhatwascomingtohim，anditwasnotonetoone，butonetoforty，withasmanymoresquaws，asgoodfightersasthebraves，tobackthem。ItwasaterrorbutIneverhavebeensorrywewentthroughittogether。Ihaverestedsosecurelyinyourfathereversince。“
“Andheisassafeinyou，“Iinsisted。
“Asyouwill，“saidmother。“Thisworldmusthaveherwomenquiteasmuchashermen。Itisshouldertoshoulder，hearttoheart，business。“
Theclamourinthemeadowaroseaboveourvoicesandbroughtusbacktothefoxes。
“Theregoesanother！“Isaid，thetearsbeginningtorollagain。
“Itisheathenishbusiness，“saidmother。“Idon’tblameyou！
Ifpeoplewerenottooshiftlesstocarefortheirstuff，thefoxeswouldn’ttaketheirchickensandgeese。Theynevergetours！“
“Hoodsaren’tshiftless！“Isobbed。
“Therearealwaysexceptions，“saidmother，“andtheyaretheexceptioninthiscase。“
ThedoorflewopenandLeonranin。Hewaswhitewithexcitement，andtrembling。
“Mother，comeandseemetakeafenceonPryor’sRocket！“hecried。
Motherhadhiminherarms。
“Youlittlewhiffet！“shesaid。“Youlittletow-hairedwhiffet！“
Bothofthemwerelaughingandcryingatthesametime，andsowasI。
“Isawyoutakeonefenceandthecreek，Weiscope！“shesaid，holdinghimtight，andstrokinghishair。“Thatwilldoforto-
day。Ridethehorsehomeslowly，rubitdowniftheywillallowyou，andbesuretorememberyourmannerswhenyouleave。Totrustsuchachildasyouwithsovaluableahorse，andforMr。
Pryortopersonallyridewithyouandhelpyou，Ithinkthatwasabigthingforamanlikehimtodo。“
“But，mother，he’sbeenshowingmeforweeks，orIcouldn’thavedoneitto-day。Itwasoursecrettosurpriseyou。WhenIgetmyhorse，I’llbeabletoridealittle，aswellasMr。Laddie。“
“Leon，don’t，“saidmother，grippinghimtighter。
“Youmustbearinmind，wordaboutthatmoneymaycomeanyday。“
“Aw，itwon’teither，“saidLeon，pullingaway。“Andsay，mother，thatdumb-bellwaslikecountryboysmakeinEngland。Hehelpedmehuntthewoodandshowedme，andIcouldn’trideandmanageit，sohehaditallday，andyoushouldhaveheardhimmakeitrip。Say，mother，takemyword，hewassomepumpkinsinEngland。IbetheorderedtheQueenaround，whenhewasthere！“
“Nodoubt！“laughedmother，kissinghimandpushinghimfromthedoor。
Somepeopleareneversatisfied。Afterthatsplendidridingandtheperfectday，father，Leon，andLaddiecamehomeblamingeveryone，andfindingfault，andtryingtoexplainhowithappened，thatthepeoplefromtheeastsideclaimedtwofoxes，andtherewasonlyoneleftforthewestside，whentheyhadseenandknewtheyhaddriventhreeformiles。TheysaidtheylosttheminourBigWoods。
Ididn’tcareonespeck。Iwouldasliefwearacalicodress，andletthelittlefoxeshavetheirmammiestofeedthem；andI
waswillingtobetallmymoneythatwewouldhaveasmuchham，andasmanygreensnextsummerasweeverhad。AndifthefoxestookHoods’Dorkingsagain，letthembuildacoopwithsafefoundations。Thewaywastousestoneandheapupdirtarounditinthefall，tobeperfectlysure，andmakeitwarmer。
Wetookcareofourchickensbecausewehadtohavethem。Alltheyearweneededthem，butmostespeciallyforEaster。Mothersaidthatwasordainedchickentime。TurkeysforThanksgiving，suckingpigsforChristmas，chickensforEaster，goose，shecouldn’tabide。Shethoughtitwastoostrong。Shesaidtheeggwasasymboloflife；ofawakening，ofbirth，andthechickenscamefromtheeggs，firstonesaboutEaster，sothatproveditwaschickentime。
IamgoingtoquitprayingaboutlittlethingsIcanmanagemyself。Fathersaidnoprayerwouldbringananswerunlessyoutookholdandpulledwithallyourbeingforwhatyouwanted。I
hadbeenintendingfordaystoasktheLordtohelpmefindwhereLeonhidhisEastereggs。Ithadbeenthelawatourhousefromtheveryfirst，thatforthelastmonthbeforeEaster，asidefromwhatmotherhadtohaveforthehouse，allofusmightgathereveryeggwecouldfindandkeepthemuntilEaster。Ifwecouldlocatethehidingplaceofanyoneelse，wemighttakealltheirs。ThedaybeforeEastertheywerebroughtin，motherputasidewhatsherequired，andtheonewhohadthemostgottosellallofthemandtakethemoney。Sometimesthereweretwowashtubsfull，andwhattheybroughtwasworthhaving，forsure。
Sowewatchedallyearforsafeplaces，andwhenthetimecamewealmostranafterthehenswithabasket。BecauseLaddieandLeonwerebiggertheycouldoutrunus，andlotsofhenslaidinthebarn，sotheretheboysalwayshadfirstchance。Oftenduringthemonthwewouldfindandtakeeachother’seggsadozentimes。
Wedividedthem，andhidpartindifferentplaces，sothatifeitherwerefoundtherewouldstillbesomeleft。
Laddiehadhisinthehopperoftheciderpressrightonthethreshingfloor，andashewassuretogetmorethanIhadanyway，Iusuallyputminewithhis。Mayhadherssomeplace，andwhereLeonhadhis，noneofuscouldfindorimagine。I
almostlayawakeofnightstryingtothink，andeverytimeI
thoughtofanewplace，thenextdayIwouldlook，andtheywouldn’tbethere。ThreedaysbeforeEaster，motherbegantocookandgetthebigdinnerready，andsheranshortofeggs。
Shetoldmetogotothebarnandtelltheboysthateachofthemmustsendheradozenasquicklyastheycould。Ofcoursethatwasfair，ifshemadebothgiveupthesamenumber。SoIwenttothebarn。
Thelanewasmuddy，andasIhadbeensick，Iworemyrubbersthatspring。Ithoughttokeepoutofthedeepmud，wherehorsesandcattletrampled，I’dgoupthefrontembankment，andenterthelittledoor。Myfeetmadenosound，anditsohappenedthatthedoordidn’teither，andasIstartedtoopenit。IsawLeondisappearingdownthestairway，withabigsackonhisback。I
thoughtitwascornforthehorses，andfollowedhim，buthewenttothecowstabledoorandstartedtowardthelane，andthenI
thoughtitwasforthepigs，soIcalledLaddieandtoldhimabouttheeggs。Hesaidhe’dgivemetwodozenofhis，andLeoncouldpayhimback。Wewenttogethertogetthem，andtherewasonlyonethere。
Wasn’tthatexactlylikeLeon？LeaveONEforthenestegg！Ifheweredyingandsawajokeoratrick，he’dstoptoplayitbeforehefinished，ifhepossiblycould。Ifhehadnotimeatall，thenhe’dgowithhiseyestwinklingoverthethoughtsofthefunitwouldhavebeenifhepossiblycouldhavemanagedit。
Ofcoursewhenwesawthatonelonelyeggintheciderhopper，justexactlylikethe“LastRoseofSummer，lefttopineonthestem，“IthoughtofthesackLeoncarried，andknewwhathadbeeninit。Wehurriedoutandtriedtofindhim，buthewasswallowedup。Youcouldn’tseehimorhearasoundofhimanywhere。
Motherwasascrossassheevergets。Rightthereshemadeanewrule，anditwasthattwodozeneggsmustbebroughttothehouseeachday，whetheranywerehiddenornot。Shehadtostopbakinguntilshegoteggs。Shesaidafewtimesshehadusedagooseeggincustard。Icouldfixthat。Iknewwhereoneofourgraygeesehadanest，andifshe’dcookanygooseegg，itwouldbeagrayone。OfcourseIhadsenseenoughnottotakeablueone。
SoIslippedfromtheeastdoor，crossedtheyardandorchardcorner，climbedthefenceandwentdownthelane。Therewasthecreekupandtearing。Itwashalfoverthemeadow，andthefloodgatebetweenthepastureandthelanerockedwiththerushofwater；still，IbelievedIcouldmakeit。SoIgotonthefenceandwithmyfeetonthethirdrail，andholdingbythetopone，Iwalkedsidewise，andsogoingreachedthefloodgate。Itwasprettywobbly，butIthoughtIcouldcrossontherun。I
knewIcouldifIdaredjumpattheotherend；buttherethewaterwasoverthethirdrail，andthatmeantabovemyhead。
Itwasrightatthattimeofspringwhenyoufeltsogoodyouthoughtyoucoulddomostanything，exceptfly——Itriedthatonce——soIwenton。Theairwascoldforallthesunshone，thesmellofcatkinpollen，burstingbuds，andtheodourofearthsteaminginthesun，wasineverybreath；theblackbirdswerecalling，andthedoves；theganderslookedlonginglyattheskyandscreamedacalltoeverypassingwildflock，andDeams’
roosterwantedtofightallcreation，ifyoujudgedbytheboastinghewasdoingfromtheirbarnyardgate。Hemademethinkofeggs，soIsetmyjaws，lookedstraightahead，andscootedacrossthefloodgatetothepostthathelditandtherailsofthemeadowfence。Imadeittoo，andthenthefencewaseasy，onlyIhadtodoublequiteshort，becausethewaterwasoverthethirdrailthere，butatlastitwasallgone，andIwenttothefencecornerandtherewasthegooseonthenest，layinganegg。
Shehadbuiltonalittlehighplace，amongpuddles，wildrosebushes，andthorns，andtheoldthingwouldn’tgetoff。Shejustsatthereandstuckoutherheadandhissedandhissed。Inevernoticedbeforethatgeeseweresobigandsoaggravating。I
wasn’tgoingtogiveup，afterthatfloodgate，soIhuntedabigstick，setitagainstherwing，pushedheroffandgrabbedthreeeggsandran。WhenIgottothefence，Iwasinapickleforsure。Ididn’tknowwhatintheworldtodowiththeeggs。
AtlastIunbuttonedmycoat，puttheminmyapronfront，gathereditup，andholdingitbetweenmyteeth，startedback。I
hadtodoublemorethaneveronaccountoftheeggs，andwhenI
reachedthefloodgateitrockedlikeabranchinthewind；butI
hadtogetback，soIrestedandlistenedtothelarksawhile。
Thatwasagoodplan。Theywerecallingformates，andwhattheysaidwassoperfectlylovely，youcouldn’tthinkofanythingelse；andthelessyouthoughtabouthowthatgaterocked，andhowdeepandswiftthewaterran，thebetterforyou。Atlastonelarkwentalmostfromsightandherang，twistedandtrilledhiscall，untilmyheartswelledsobigithurt。Icrossedonthejumpwithnotimetothinkatall。Thatwasafineplan，forImadeit，butIhitthepostsohardIbrokethemiddleegg。I
wasgoingtothrowitaway，buttherewassomuchstarchinmyapronitheldlikeadish，andithadbeencleanthatmorning，nowtheeggsoileditanyway，soIranandgothomeallright。
Motherwassopleasedabouttheeggsshechangedtheapronandneversaidaword，excepttobragonme。Shesaidshecouldn’tkeephousewithoutme，andIguessthatwasafact。Icameinhandyalotoftimes。Butatdinnerwhenshescoldedtheboysabouttheeggs，andtoldthemIbroughtthegooseeggsforhercustard，elsetherewouldhavebeennopie，fatherbrokeloose，andIthoughthewasgoingtowhipmesure。Hetoldmotherallaboutthewaterandthegate，andhowIhadtocross，andhesaid，`itwasadispensationofProvidencethatwedidn’thaveafuneralinsteadofcelebratingEaster，’soIsaid：
“Well，ifyouthinkIcamesoneardrowningmyself，whenyourejoicebecauseChristisrisenfromthedead，youcanbegladI
amtoo，andthatwillmakeitallthebetter。“
Theboyslaughed，butfathersaiditwasnolaughingmatter。I
thinkthatspeechsavedmefromgoingonthethreshingfloor，forhetookmeonhislapwhenIthoughtI’dhavetogo，andtoldmenever，nevertodoanythinglikethatagain，andthenhehuggedmeuntilIalmostbroke。Gracious！Heshouldhaveseenusgoingtoschoolsomedays。Why，weevenwalkedthetoprailwhenitwastheonlyoneabovewater，andwecouldcrossthebridgeifwewantedto。AtleastwhenLaddieorMissAmeliawasnotaround，wedid。
Leonwassoburstingfullhescarcelycouldeat，andLaddielookedprettyglumwhenhehadtoadmithehadnoeggs；soLaddiehadtohandoverthewholetwodozen。Leondidn’tmindthat，buthesaidifhemust，thenallofusshouldstayinthedining-roomuntilhebroughtthem，becauseofcoursehecouldn’twalkstraightandgettheminbroaddaylightwithuswatching，andnotshowwheretheywere。Fathersaidthatwasfair，soLeonwentoutandbeforesoverylonghecamebackwiththeeggs。
Ithoughtuntilmyskullalmostcracked，aboutwhereheCOULD
havegone，andIwasalmosttotheplacewherethethingseemedseriousenoughthatI’dasktheLordtohelpmefindLaddie’seggs，whenmothersentmetothegarretforredonionskins。Shehadanhourtorest，andshewasgoingtospenditfixingdecorationsforoureggs。Ofcoursetherewerealwaysredandblackanilineones，andyellowandblue，butnoneofuseverlikethemhalfsowellasthosemothercoloured，herself。
Shetookthedarkredskinsandcutboys，girls，dogs，cats，stars，flowers，butterflies，fish，andeverythingimaginable，andwettheskinsalittleandlaidthemonverywhiteeggsthathadbeensoakedinalumwatertocutthegrease，andthenwrappedlightyellowskinsover，andthendarkerones，andatlastlayerafterlayerofcloth，andwetthat，androastedthemanhourinhotashesandthenletthemcoolanddry，beforeunwrapping。
Whenshetookthemout，rubbedonalittlegreaseandpolishedthem——theretheywere！Theywouldhaveournames，flowers，birds，animals，allinpaleyellow，deeprichbrown，almostred，andperfectlybeautifulcolours，whileyoucouldhuntandhuntbeforeyoufoundeverythingononeegg。Andsometimestheonionskinsslipped，andmadethingsofthemselvesthatsheneverputon。
IwascomingfromthebinwithanapronfullofskinsandI
almostfellover。Icouldn’tbreatheforalongtime。Idancedonmytoes，andheldmymouthtokeepfromscreaming。Onthegarretfloorbeforemelayalittlepieceofwetmud，andthefaintestoutlineofaboot，abootaboutLeon’ssize。ThatwasallIneededtoknow。AssoonasIcouldholdsteady，Itooktheskinstomother，slippedbackandhuntedgood；andofcourseI
hadtofindthem——grainsackshalffullofthem——carriedinthefrontdoorintheevening，andupthefrontstairs，wherenoonewentuntilbedtime，unlesstherewerecompany。Awaybackundertheeaves，acrossthejoists，behindtheoldclothingwaitingtoberipped，colouredandtornforcarpetrangsandrugs，Mr。Leonhadalmosteveryeggthathadbeenlaidontheplaceforamonth。
NOWhe’dseewhathe’dgetfortakingLaddie’s！
ThenIstoppedshort。WhatIthoughtmostmademesick，butI
didn’tproposetolieinbedagainforayearatleast，forithaditsbadpartsaswellasitsgood；soIwentstraightandwhisperedtoLaddie。Heneverlookedpleasedatall，soIknewI
hadbeenright。Hekissedme，andthankedme，andthensaidslowly：“It’smightygoodofyou，LittleSister，butyouseeitwouldn’tbeFAIR。Hefoundminehimself，sohehadarighttotakethem。ButIdon’tdaretouchhis，whenyoutellmewheretheyare。IneverinamonthofSundayswouldhavelookedfortheminthehouse。Iwasgoingtosearchthewoodhouseandsmokehousethisafternoon。Ican’ttakethem。Butthankyoujustasmuch。“
ThenIwenttofatherandhelaughed。Howhedidlaugh！
“Laddieisright！“hesaidatlast。“Hedidn’tfindthem，andhemustn’ttakethem。Butyoumay！They’reyours！ThatfrontdoorschemeofLeon’swasfairlywell，butitwasn’tquitegoodenough。Ifhe’dcleanedhisfeetasheshould，beforehecrossedmother’scarpetandclimbedthestairs，he’dhavemadeitallright。`Histracksbetrayedhim，’astracksdoallofus，ifwearecarelessenoughtoleaveany。Theeggsareyours，andto-
nightisthetimetoproducethem。Wheredoyouwanttohidethem？“
Wellofallthings！andafterIhadstumbledonthemwithoutpesteringtheLord，either！Justasslickasanything！Mine！I
nevereverthoughtofit。ButwhenIdidthink，Ilikedit。ThemoreIthought，thefunnieritgrew。
“Undermother’sbed，“Iwhispered。“ButInevercangetthem。
They’reinwheatsacks，andfullsohigh，andthey’llhavetobehandledlikeeggs。“
“I’lldothecarrying，“laughedfather。“Comeshowme！“
Sowetookallthoseeggs，andputthemundermother’sbed。
OfcoursesheandCandacesawus，buttheydidn’thunteggsandthey’dnevertell。IfeverIthoughtI’dburstwideopen！AboutduskIsawLeoncomingfromthebarncarryinghishatathisside——moreeggs——soIranlikeastreakandlockedthefrontdoor，andthenslippedbackinthedining-roomandalmostscreamed，whenIcouldhearhimtryingit，andhecouldn’tgetin。Afterawhilehecamein，fussedaround，andfinallywentintothesitting-room，andthekeyturnedandhewentupstairs。