Part 27 (2/2)

”'_Hope and have_,' is my motto.”

”What does that mean? 'Tain't Latin, but it might as well be.”

”It means hope for the best, and then you will work the harder to have it.”

”Thet jest fits my case.”

”The motto was given me by a very good girl in New York, who was dying of consumption. They were the last words she spoke, and they were engraved on her tombstone. I will tell you the whole story about her some time.”

”I should like to hear it, fust rate; but I reckon we've got sunthin'

else to do jest now. I hope we shall hev sunthin' like a house for you to sleep in to-night.”

”Hoping alone will not build the house, Ethan; besides, we don't hope much for that which we are not willing to work for.”

”I know thet; and I'm go'n to work on the house right away now,”

replied Ethan, as he rose from the ground, and took his shovel.

”I will help you, for I hope we shall have a house to keep us out of the wet if it should happen to rain.”

”You are nothin' but a gal,” said Ethan, rather contemptuously.

”But I can help you. How shall you build a house?”

”Well, I don't quite know.”

”I can help you think, if nothing more, Ethan.”

”So you kin, f.a.n.n.y. You are right down smart. I don't know as we should ever hev got over to this island ef't hadn't been for you.”

”Do you think we could get the boat out of the water, Ethan?”

”I reckon we could,” replied Ethan, rubbing his head to stimulate his ideas. ”I kin cut some rollers, and kinder pry it along.”

f.a.n.n.y minutely detailed her plan for a house, which, after much explanation, was adopted. As soon as Ethan comprehended her idea, he became very enthusiastic for its execution.

”I reckon we must tie up the young Injin afore we go to work,” said he, taking the cord, and moving towards Wahena.

The little savage looked appealingly at f.a.n.n.y, placed his hand upon his breast, shook his head violently, and frequently pointed to the sh.o.r.e of the lake. She interpreted his signs to mean that he would not attempt to escape, and she so informed Ethan.

”I da.s.sent trust him,” said he.

”He can't get away if he tries,” replied f.a.n.n.y.

”But he may take one of the guns and kill one on us.”

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