n. This side branch grew more difficult at every
step, and, as the light had disappeared, he felt it would be better to
go back, and he began to descend the rough way among the stones in the
bed of the stream, when, turning one of these, he happened to look back,
and there was the light burning clearly once more.

That was no marsh light, it was too clear and glowing, and, feeling
convinced now that it had only been hidden by some turn of the ravine or
interposing stone, he once more began to ascend the streamlet, till the
light, which he watched intently, suddenly again disappeared.

He stopped short and stepped back a couple of paces, when the light
reappeared; and, seeing that he was right, he pressed on, with the
result that at the end of a few minutes there was the light again.

Twice over it disappeared as he stumbled onward, but there it was again,
and growing so much plainer as he drew nearer, that it gradually took
the form of fire shining through an open door.

Convinced that it was either a little country inn or the home of some
shepherd, Max's hopes rose, and he stumbled on, hoping every minute to
come upon a path which should lead up to the door.

But he hoped in vain, though he had one satisfaction, that of seeing the
shape of a doorway quite plainly, and the flickering of a fire, which
some one must be in the act of stirring.

Directly after he saw the doorway darkened, as if somebody had passed
out, and his lips parted to call for guidance to the place, when he
heard a movement behind him, and, turning sharply, there was another
sound, as if a stone had fallen.

This made him turn round again toward the light, when, quick as thought,
something thick was thrown over his head and drawn close, a pair of
sinewy arms dashed his to his sides; he was drawn backward; some one
seized his legs, and, in spite of his straggles, he was lifted from the
ground, and two men seemed to be carrying him over a rugged way, now up,
now down.

He shouted and begged as well as his half-suffocated state would allow,
for the covering to be taken from his head, but the only response he
obtained was an angry shake and a tighter clasp of the arms about his
legs.

All at once he could see red light glowing through the great woollen
cloth which covered him, and he felt that he was thrown on the ground,
and that some one was binding his legs together. Directly after, his
arms were bound behind his back, he was placed in a s