CHAPTER XIII.
JOE'S PLAN.
Sam's illness continued day after day, and the boys were greatly troubled.

Little Judie remained by her "big brother's" side almost constantly, while Tom and Joe provided food, cooked it, and attended to the wants of the little community to the very best of their ability.
They were in the habit too, of retiring now and then, to a secluded spot in the drift-pile, to consult and discuss plans of procedure.

One day Tom went to the rendezvous and found Joe there leaning against a log, with his feet on another, and his eyes closed.
"Are you asleep, Joe ?" he asked.
"No, Mas' Tom, I'se not asleep," said Joe, "I'se just thinkin'." "Well, what were you thinking, Joe ?" "I'se been layin' plans, Mas' Tom, an' I's laid one good un anyhow." "What is it, Joe ?" "Well, you see Mas' Sam ought to have a doctor, an' he's gwine to die if he don't, dat's sartain.

But dey ain't no doctor here." Joe said this as if it were a new truth just discovered, that there was no doctor there.
"Well, go on, Joe," said Tom, "and tell me your plan, maybe it's a good one." "Course it's a good un.

I dun tell you dat fust." "Well, what is it ?" "Mas' Tom, don't you know Mas' Sam always begins 'way back whar' he's been thinkin' an' tells all dat fust so you kin see all de why's and wharfores ?" "Yes; but what has that to do with your plan, Joe ?" "Nothin', only dat's de way I'se gwine to 'splain my plan, I'se dun begun way back whar I'se dun been thinkin', an' I'se gwine to tell all 'bout dat fust.