"Did you tell Sister Ann about Mr. Brimbecomb?"
She stumbled over the name.
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
"My sister loves him--you know that. She is heartbroken that he should have accepted this case. We must make it as easy as we can for her, dear child."
The girl saw Horace's lips twitch as he spoke, and thought of the love he had for his sister, and her desire to tell him what she knew died immediately.
"Do you want me to go with Pappy Lon and not make any trouble for her?" she whispered.
"No, no, not that! You can't go, Fledra, and they can't take you, if--you have told me the truth about the man your father wanted to give you to."
"Floyd and I told the truth," she said seriously, lifting her eyes to his face; "but for Sister Ann I'd go away with Pappy Lon, and with Lem, if you'd take care of Fluke till he--"
"Don't, Fledra, don't!" groaned Horace. "It would tear me to pieces to give you up. But--but you couldn't relieve my mind, Dear, could you?"
Fledra knew what he meant, and shook her head.
"No, not now," she replied.
If it troubled Ann to have Everett take part in their going back to the squatter country, how much worse she would feel if she knew what he really had done! Horace's appeal to shield Ann from overmuch burden strengthened Fledra's courage.
"Can you keep us?" she asked, after a moment's thought.
"I am going to try."
"If you love me well, Brother Horace," said Fledra, "won't you believe that I'd do anything for Sister Ann and you?"
He nodded his head; but did not speak.
* * * * *
When he reached Ithaca, Lem Crabbe found a flood besieging the forest city. The creeks of Cascadilla and Six Mile Gorge had overflowed their banks, and the lower section of the town was under water. He had come back for the scow, and to find Scraggy. He was determined to force from her the whereabouts of his son. He wended his way toward the hut of one of his friends at the inlet, and hailed the boat that conveyed the squatters to and fro in flood-time. As the boat lapped the muddy water breaking into the weeds and brushes, Lem saw Eli Cronk perched in another boat, with a spear in his hand.
"Eli!" shouted Lem.
Eli greeted him with a wave of the pole.