She had thrust in her hair a tiny plume of the scarlet tanager, and it lay there, like a flash of flame, against the dark brown of her soft curls.
Where she stood she could see the water of the spring near the edge of the forest sparkling in the sunlight, as if it wished to tantalize her, but as she looked a thought came to her, and she acted upon it at once.
She went to the little square, where her father, John Ware, Ross and others were in conference.
"Father," she exclaimed, "I will show you how to get the water!" Mr.Upton and the other men looked at her in so much astonishment that none of them replied, and Lucy used the opportunity.
"I know the way," she continued eagerly.

"Open the gate, let the women take the buckets--I will lead--and we can go to the spring and fill them with water.

Maybe the Indians won't fire on us!" "Lucy, child!" exclaimed her father.

"I cannot think of such a thing." Then up spoke Tom Ross, wise in the ways of the wilderness.
"Mr.Upton," he said, "the girl is right.

If the women are willing to go out it must be done.