hen a soft scratching on the wall gave notice of Nesis's
presence outside.

"Angleysman, you there?" she whispered through the chink.

"Here!" said Ambrose.

"The boat is ready," she said. "I got grub and blanket and gun."

"Ah, fine!" whispered Ambrose.

"You almost out?" she asked.

He explained his situation.

"I dig this side, too," she said. "We dig together. Mak' no noise!"

Since the shack was innocent of foundation it was no great matter to
dig under the wall. With knife and hands Ambrose worked on his side
until he had got deep enough to dig under.

Occasional little sounds assured him that Nesis was not idle. Suddenly
the thin barrier of earth between them caved in, and they clasped hands
in the hole.

Five minutes more of scooping out and the way was clear. Ambrose
extended his long body on the floor and wriggled himself slowly under
the log.

Outside an urgent hand on his shoulder restrained him. Throwing
herself on the ground, she put her lips to his ear. "Go back!" she
whispered. "The moon is moch bright. You must wait little while."

Ambrose, mad to taste the free air of heaven, resisted a little
sullenly.

"Please go back!" she whispered imploringly. "I come in. I got talk
with you."

He drew himself back into the shack with none too good a grace.
Standing over the hole when she appeared, he put his hands under her
arms and, drawing her through, stood her upon her feet.

He could have tossed the little thing in the air with scarcely an
effort. She turned about and came close to him.

"I so glad to be by you!" she breathed.

She emanated a delicate natural fragrance like pine-trees or wild
roses--but Ambrose could only think of freedom.

"You managed to get here without being seen," he grumbled.

"You foolish!" she whispered tenderly. "I little. I can hide behind
leaves sof' as a link. Your white face him show by the moon lak a
little moon. Are you sorry you got stay with me little while?"

"No!" he said. "But--I'm sick to be out of this!"

She put her hands on his shoulders and drew him down. "Sit on the
floor," she whispered. "Your ear too moch high for my mouth."'

They sat, leaning against the footboard of the bed, Like a confiding
child she snuggled her shoulder under his arm and drew the arm around
her. What was he to do hut hold her close?

"It is true, you ver' moch strong," she murmured. "Lak a bear. But a
bear is ogly."

"You didn't think I