ce a storm so far from shelter.

All that day Billy trudged on. Fortunately it was a constant, though
gradual, decline and the journey was made easier. He ate occasionally,
and gained courage and strength, but it was nearly nine o'clock--though
Billy was not aware of it--before the landmarks proved his hope
true--the woodman's hut was near at hand.

The boy had all the keenness of his age and environment. He knew that
others besides himself might avail themselves of the shelter, and he had
reason for choosing his company; so, before he reached the house, he
took to tip-toeing, and keeping clear of the underbrush.

The hut had one small window, before which hung a dilapidated shutter by
a rusty hinge. The door opened, Billy knew, into a little passage from
which the room door opened, and from which a rickety ladder led up to a
loft, unused and apparently useless.

As the boy neared the house his trained senses detected the smell of
fire and the sound of muffled voices. He crept to the window, and
through the broken shutter saw two figures crouching by the blazing
logs, but the faces were turned away, and the gloom of the room made it
impossible for Billy to decide whether the men were familiars or
strangers.

Meanwhile the wind was rising with a storm in its keeping; there was
nothing to do but seek refuge, for, until he could determine his further
course, Billy decided to take to the loft in order to reconnoitre.

Cautiously he made his way to the door, lifted the latch and gained the
entry. There he paused, for the voices had ceased speaking and the boy
feared that he had been heard. After a moment he concluded it was safer
to be in the loft in case the men were suspicious, so he hurriedly
mounted the ladder and crawled along the dusty floor of the space
overhead.

Gratefully, to his half-frozen form, the heat from below rose, and with
it came the odour of frying bacon, and the sound of sizzling fat.

Fortune was still further with Billy. There was a pile of discarded
bedding and clothing on the floor. If worst came he could stay where he
was and be partially comfortable.

As he reached this conclusion a voice from below caused his heart to
stand still.

"I thought I'd seen the last of yer. You got all I had--what more do you
want with me?"

It was Jude Lauzoon who spoke.

"See here, son"; and the smooth tones filled Billy with an old fear;
"that was all a big mistake. My hand was out of the game. St. An