The Terrible Word

           Itwastimetoarrive.ExtremelassitudemadeitimpossibleforMrs.Weldontocontinueanylongerajourneymadeundersuchpainfulconditions.Herlittleboy,crimsonduringthefitsoffever,verypaleduringtheintermissions,waspitiabletosee.Hismotherextremelyanxious,hadnotbeenwillingtoleaveJackeveninthecareofthegoodNan.Sheheldhim,half-lying,inherarms.

           Yes,itwastimetoarrive.But,totrusttotheAmerican,ontheveryeveningofthisdaywhichwasbreaking—theeveningofthe18thofApril,thelittletroopshouldfinallyreachtheshelterofthe"hacienda"ofSanFelice.

           Twelvedays’journeyforawoman,twelvenightspassedintheopenair;itwasenoughtooverwhelmMrs.Weldon,energeticasshewas.But,forachild,itwasworse,andthesightoflittleJacksick,andwithoutthemostordinarycares,hadsufficedtocrushher.

           DickSand,Nan,Tom,andhiscompanionshadsupportedthefatiguesofthejourneybetter.

           Theirprovisions,althoughtheywerecommencingtogetexhausted,hadnotbecomeinjured,andtheirconditionwassatisfactory.

           AsforHarris,heseemedmadeforthedifficultiesoftheselongjourneysacrosstheforests,anditdidnotappearthatfatiguecouldaffecthim.Only,inproportionashenearedthefarm,DickSandobservedthathewasmorepreoccupiedandlessfrankinbehaviorthanbefore.Thecontrarywouldhavebeenmorenatural.Thiswas,atleast,theopinionoftheyoungnovice,whohadnowbecomemorethansuspiciousoftheAmerican.