some points on yet to-night. I reckon I'll have to foot it out to Aunt
Nancy's."

As Creed spoke a fellow by the name of Taylor Stribling, a sort of
satellite of Blatchley Turrentine's came slouching from the shadows of
the nearby smoke-house. He watched old man Broyles ride away, and Blev
Straley take a leisurely departure.

"Mighty bad ye got to hoof it, Creed," he observed. "Ef you've a mind to
come with me I can show you a short cut through the woods by Foeman's
Bluff. Hit's right on the first part of my way."

Creed had been long out of the mountains or he would have known that a
short cut which led by Foeman's Bluff would certainly be a strange route
toward Nancy Card's cabin; but it was characteristic of the man that
without question or demur he accepted the proffered friendly turn at its
face value, and he and Stribling at once took the way which led across
the gulch to the still. They walked for some time, Stribling leading,
Creed following, deep in his own thoughts.

"Looks like this is a queer direction to be going," he roused himself to
comment wonderingly as they dipped into the sudden hollow.

"The trail turns a piece up yon," explained the guide briefly.

Again they toiled on in silence, crossing the dry boulder-strewn bed of a
stream, travelling always in the dense darkness of the tall timber,
finally striking the rise, which was so abrupt and steep that they had to
catch by the path-side bushes to pull themselves up. It was lighter here,
as the trail mounted toward a region of rocky bluffs where there was no
big timber, running obliquely across the great promontory that had got
the name of Foeman's Bluff, from old Ab Foeman whose hideout, still
unknown, was said to be somewhere in its front.

"Ain't it mighty curious to be goin' up so?" Creed panted. "Aunt Nancy's
place lies lower than the Turrentines'. By the road it's down hill mighty
near all the way."

"Thishyer's a short cut," growled the other evasively. "Mind how you
step. Hit's a fur ways down thar ef a body was to fall."

With the words they came out suddenly on the Bluff itself where the
trail widened into a natural terrace, and the great rock, solemn with
majestic peace, faced an infinity of sky with bared brow. As they
emerged into the light Creed took off his hat and lifted his
countenance, inhaling the beauty of the summer night. The late moon
had climbed a third of the way up the heavens; now she looked down with
a chastened, ta