are had been shipped away.

"She brought a thousand dollars," said his foster father, "and I'll
divide the profit with you."

The young man was now able to pay his debt to Polly, but for the
first time he had a sense of guilt.

Trove bought another filly--a proud-stepping great-granddaughter of
old Justin Morgan.

A rough-furred, awkward creature, of the size of a small dog, fled
before him, as he entered the house in Brier Dale, and sought
refuge under a table. It was a young painter which Allen had
captured back in the deep woods, after killing its dam. Soon it
rushed across the floor, chasing a ball of yarn, but quickly got
under cover. Before the end of that day Trove and the new pet were
done with all distrust of each other. The big cat grew in size and
playful confidence. Often it stalked the young man with still foot
and lashing tail, leaping stealthily over chairs and, betimes,
landing upon Trove's back.

* * * * * *

It was a June day, and Trove was at Robin's Inn. A little before
noon Polly and he and the two boys started for Brier Dale. They
waded the flowering meadows in Pleasant Valley, crossed a great
pasture, and came under the forest roof. Their feet were muffled
in new ferns. Their trail wavered up the side of a steep ridge,
and slanted off in long loops to the farther valley. There it
crossed a brook and, for a mile or more, followed the mossy banks.
On a ledge, mottled with rock velvet, by a waterfall, they sat down
to rest, and Polly opened the dinner basket. Somehow the music and
the minted breath of the water and the scent of the moss and the
wild violet seemed to flavour their meal. Tom had brought a small
gun with him, and, soon after they resumed their walk, saw some
partridges and fired upon them. All the birds flew save a hen that
stood clucking with spread wings. Coming close, they could see her
eyes blinking in drops of blood. Trove put his hand upon her, but
she only bent her head a little and spread her wings the wider.

"Tom," said he, "look at this little preacher of the woods. Do you
know what she's saying?"

"No," said the boy, soberly.

"Well, she's saying: 'Look at me and see what you've done.
Hereafter, O boy! think before you pull the trigger.' It's a pity,
but we must finish the job."

As they came out upon Brier Road the boys found a nest of hornets.
It hung on a bough above the roadway. Soon Paul had flung a stone
that br