ent down the
porch steps. Pausing a moment, he listened again. The footsteps seemed
far away. Groping his way to the end of the Block, he went into Big-bug
Avenue, where he could hear them more plainly; yet they were going away
from him towards the bridge.

His determination was taken at once, and rapidly he followed the crowd.
Running recklessly, and keeping as near the middle of the street as he
could, he stumbled often and at last fell. He rose quickly, not minding
the pain, took one step and stopped, brought to a halt by an obstacle on
which he placed his hands.

"It's the horse-block," he exclaimed joyfully, patting it
affectionately, as he would a friend.

It was a friend indeed--a guide.

Leaving it, he went ahead slowly, swinging his arms and reaching as far
as he could, pausing at every step. Presently the tips of his fingers
touched something. Going nearer, he found he was beside a post, which he
felt eagerly as if searching for some mark by which to know it. He found
two rings hanging one above the other from staples driven into the wood.

Leaning against the post, he listened. A cold breeze blew over him, and
he shivered, coughing in spite of the hand that covered his mouth. He
hoped to hear some one speak, but nothing reached his ears from the
bridge but the trampling of heavy boots on the floor. Again the wind
blew, harder this time, and he coughed louder; but if he was heard, no
one heeded him. A creaking sound came from above him, but he did not
need the rasping screech of the sign on its rusty hinges to inform him
that he was in front of the tavern. Listening a moment longer, he patted
the post as he had done the horse-block, and stole towards the bridge.
Soon from the remark of a man on the outskirts of the crowd he learned
what was to be done.

"Heng Gill," he repeated in a whisper, half joyfully, wholly willing
that it should be done. Then came the thought,

"But Lizzi would rether they wouldn't."

With eager, impatient search, he tried to find the sign-post to guide
him towards the Block, where he had decided to go and tell her what was
happening. Reach out as he would, he could not touch the post, and he
began running in circles, striking out with his hands like a madman.

"Hunchy! Hunchy!" he called, but his voice was weak, and he was not
heard.

When he was almost exhausted he struck a tree with his arm. Pausing a
second to feel the bark, he went quickly around it and stumbled over th