sed eyes. Then, waking suddenly, he looked
at Shock and said: "Carry me out, Mr. Macgregor. Carry me out where I
can see the trees and the stars. Through long years they have been my
best friends. There, too, I would lie in my long sleep."

They made a bed of boughs and skins for him before the camp-fire, and
out into the dry, warm night Shock carried him. In the wide valley
there still lingered the soft light of the dying day, but the shadows
were everywhere lying deeper. Night was rapidly drawing up her curtains
upon the world. The great trees stood in the dim light silent, solemn,
and shadowy, keeping kindly watch over the valley and all things
therein. Over the eastern hill the full moon was just beginning to
rise. The mingled lights of silver and gold falling through the trees
lent a rare, unearthly loveliness to the whole scene.

The Old Prospector, reclining on his couch, let his eyes wander over
the valley and up through the trees to the sky and the stars, while a
smile of full content rested on his face.

"It is a lovely night, dear father," said his daughter, quick to
interpret his thought.

"Yes, my daughter, a rare night. Often have I seen such nights in this
very spot, but never till to-night did their full joy enter my heart.
My life was one long, terrible unreality. To-night the world is new,
and full of loveliness and all peace."

Then he lay in long silence. The doctor came near, touched his wrist,
listened to the beating of his heart, and whispered to his daughter,
"It will not be long now."

The old man opened his eyes. "You are near, my daughter," he said.

"Yes, father, dear, I am here," she replied, pressing his hand between
hers.

"Could you sing something, do you think?"

The girl drew in her breath sharply as with a sob of pain.

"No," said her father. "Never mind, my daughter. It is too much to ask."

"Yes, yes, father, I will sing. What shall I sing?"

"Sing Bernard's great hymn, 'The world is very evil.'"

It was a hymn she had often sung for him, selecting such of its verses
as were more familiar, and as expressed more nearly the thought in
their hearts.

As she began to sing the doctor passed out beyond the firelight to the
side of the tent. There he found Stanton, with his head bowed low
between his knees.

"My boy," said the doctor, "that is very beautiful, but it is very hard
to bear."

"Yes," said Stanton. "I'm a baby. I would like to help her, but I
cannot."

"We