Chapter IV.
Too Much about Nothing.
There were no Indian runners available by whom to report to distant parts the important occurrences of any day; nevertheless news of all kinds quickly spread, and the day following the accident to Ruth members of every family in the valley and beyond its bounds came hither, the men usually gathering at the wheelwright-shop and the women at Ruth's home, that the minutest details of the accident might be obtained. John Bishop, to his great annoyance, was the hero of the hour, and when not being closely questioned was gazed at as the fortunate man who had rescued Ruth. The prominence of Matthew Watson in the community had, of course, much to do with such general interest in an incident which really had no heroic element. Indeed, one observing old man had been heard to say, "Had it been poor
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