I truly believe Sewatis and I could do very
nearly the whole of the task."
"There's no question about it. Shall you try to frame the building?"
"Yes, so far as to get the timbers hewn but we could not make shift to
raise it without assistance, and what lumber we have in shape will not be
hurt by seasoning, although I do not use it for two years. Now let me show
you where I propose to locate the road in order best to accommodate those
living this side of Portsmouth."
Stephen was more interested in the progress of Walter's work than in the
stirring events he had just been describing, and the remainder of the day
was spent by the two young men in discussing every detail connected with
the proposed mill.
Shortly before nightfall Sewatis returned to camp with a fine buck, and
prepared the evening meal after his own fashion, which was certainly a
fashion not to be despised.
It was Stephen's intention to return to Portsmouth on the following
morning, and the friends sat around the camp-fire until a late hour that
evening. Walter had many messages to send to his mother and Master
McCleary, and if the messenger remembered them all his memory must have
been prodigious.
Finally, the young men crept into the lean-to where Sewatis lay,
apparently sleeping, and very shortly after they had stretched themselves
out on the fragrant fir boughs their eyes were closed in slumber.
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