goin' to track Fate to doom,
ma'am--to perishin' doom! Y' see," here the old man leaned suddenly
nearer, "y' see, Joe's found a cloo!"

"A clew! Yes--yes!" she whispered breathlessly, moistening lips suddenly
dry, and conscious that Spike's lax form had stiffened to painful
alertness.

"Well, ma'am, Joe an' the Spider's been a-seekin' an' a-searchin' of
that there wood, an' they found," here the Old Un leaned nearer yet and
whispered harshly, "they found--a coat button! Lorgorramighty!" he
exclaimed suddenly, pointing a trembling bony finger, "what's took th'
lad--look!"

Spike had risen and now stood, breathing loudly, one hand clenched upon
his breast, and turning swiftly, took a stumbling pace toward the open
window, tripped, and fell prone upon his face.

"Oh, poor lad, poor lad!" cried the Old Un, rising hastily. "Fate's
been an' ketched him one too--a fair knock-out! Leave him to me, miss,
I'll bring 'im round--bitin' 'is years is good, or vinegar on a
sponge--leave 'im to a old fightin' man--"

"No!" cried Hermione passionately, "no, I say. Leave him to me!" Quelled
by something in her tone and manner, the old man sank back in his chair,
while she, kneeling beside Spike, lifted him in her strong young arms so
that he was hidden from the Old Un's bright, piercing eyes. Holding him
thus, she loosed Spike's rigid fingers and drew away that clutching
hand; then, seeing what that hand had striven to hide, she shrank
suddenly away, letting the boy's inanimate form slip from her clasp;
and, as she knelt there above him, her shapely body was seized with
fierce tremors.

So she knelt for a long moment until Spike sighed, shivered, and sat up,
but beholding the look in her wide eyes, uttered a hoarse sound that was
like a cry of fear and, starting from her nearness, crouched down,
huddled upon his knees.

Then Hermione rose and, turning to the old man, smiled with pallid lips.

"You see--he's all right--now!" she said. "If you'll please go and tell
Mrs. Trapes I'm leaving, I'll get ready." Obediently the Old Un rose.

"Mrs. Trapes is a-gettin' into her bonnet to come along wi' us!" said
he, and putting on his hat with a flourish, took his departure. When he
was gone, Hermione turned and looked down at Spike, who, meeting her
eyes, flinched as from a blow and made no effort to rise from his knees.
So she packed her grip and dressed for the journey, while he watched her
with eyes of mute appeal. Twice he would hav