It's Tuesday.

Mr. Scott started to speak, but Pa stopped him. He asked Mr. Scott to save his breath and he said that it was no use to say another word, and he could stay till the soldiers came if he wanted to, but Pa said that he was going out now. Mr. Edwards said he was going, too. He would not stay to be driven across the line like an ornery yellow hound. Pa asked Mr. Edwards to ride out to Independence with them. But Mr. Edwards answered that he didn't care to go north. He would make a boat and go on down the river to some settlement farther south. Pa urged him that it was better come out with them and go down on foot through Missouri, and it was a risky trip, one man alone in a boat, going down the Verdigris among the wild Indian tribes. But Mr. Edwards said he had already seen Missouri and he had plenty of powder and lead. Then Pa told Mr. Scott to take the cow and calf. Pa said that they couldn't take them with them, and he had been a good neighbor, and he was sorry to leave him, but they were going out in the morning. Laura had heard all this, but she had not believed it until she saw Mr. Scott leading away the cow. The gentle cow went meekly away with the rope around her long horns, and the calf frisked and jumped behind. There went all the milk and butter. Mr. Edwards said he would be too busy to see them again. He shook hands with Pa, saying good-by and good luck. He shook hands with Ma and said good-by, ma'am. He said that he wouldn't be seeing them all again, but he sure would never forget their kindness. Then he turned to Mary and Laura, and he shook their hands as if they were grown up. He said good-by. Mary said, politely, Good-by. But Laura forgot to be polite. She said to Mr. Edwards that she wished he wouldn't go away and said thank him for going all the way to Independence to find Santa Claus for them. Mr. Edwards' eyes shone very bright, and he went away without saying another word.