e at any time more than
half an hour's journey from them; and Charley ought surely to be able
to hold the fort for that time. In case of an attack it might even be
an advantage for him, Garth, to be on the outside of the cabin, where he
could flank the attackers with his gun.

In the end he went; setting off two hours before dawn, according to his
custom. On issuing from the shack, he found with some anxiety that the
sky had become heavily overcast, and an east wind had sprung up. This
would prevent his hearing as well as he wished; however, he considered
that if Grylls intended a night attack, he would scarcely wait until so
near morning: and he kept on.

He sat in the stern of the canoe pushing hard against the opposing wind.
The raised bow danced over the water, slapping the little waves, and
sending out musical cascades of drops on either side. The wind had the
same cool, damp smell of the east winds at home; and he was reminded of
a score of nights when he had nothing heavier on his mind than the
approaching end of a vacation. After two days' imprisonment in the
shack, the tussle with the wind was highly exhilarating; and it was very
good to measure the strength of his arms. He sang under his breath as he
worked. Black as it was, he could guide himself by the dimly-sensed
outline of the tree masses; and when they receded he knew he had arrived
opposite the meadow.

It took him longer than he had counted on to gather what he could carry;
for he was hampered by the intense darkness. He collected the hay into
small armfuls, which in turn he tied into great bundles; and wedged them
into the canoe. Embarking again, he raced back before the wind at double
the speed he had made against it.

On the way, a single, dull sound, coming muffled through the night,
brought his heart into his throat. He paused; but no other sound
followed, except the song of the water, and the sweep of the wind
through the branches on shore. He redoubled his strokes, filled with a
vague anxiety; and pausing only to cast out his bundles on the shore of
the island, hastened back to the camp. He heard no other untoward
sounds; but crossing from the island, he saw that the fire in the other
camp had died down. This had never happened any night before; and it
added to his uneasiness. The increased chill of the air now heralded the
approach of dawn; but it was not yet any lighter.

As he landed, the familiar outline of his own house, just as he had