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that Mary——" She stopped with a shudder, her hand trembling as she bound some soft linen around Jerry's bare arm.

"That be not so," returned Master Todd. "'Tis only old women's tales because the swamp be dark and gloomy."

"Then ye think Mary was in no real danger?" asked Sally, almost disappointed.

"Nay, I said not that!" answered Master Todd gravely. "There was very real danger for a little one her size i' the swamp. So we have ye to thank just the same, Lawrence." He turned in a friendly way to the young Englishman. "And now let us to bed," he ended, seeing that his wife had finished her task and that the boy was leaning back in his seat with closed eyes.

"Ease after pain—be there anything so wonderful!" murmured Jerry, following the others up to bed.

"Nothing—save freedom after imprisonment," murmured Sally resentfully, who was at his heels upon her way upstairs for her blankets.

Jerry faced her in the narrow hallway; and finding that the others had closed their chamber door, he looked soberly at Sally over the lighted candle he was carrying. "I will hold the candle for ye to get your blankets out o' you chest," he remarked in a loud voice for Mistress Todd's benefit. Then, in a lower tone, he hurried on: "There be no reason ye