hts to poor Bob. A thrill of disgust and terror shot through
him; but he stood it, for he did not like to show his disgust, for
fear of offending his hideous companion. The old woman, then standing
before him with her hand on his shoulder, looked at him for a long
time in silence. Bob looked back at her, and it seemed to him that
he had never seen in all his life, such a hideous face. The wrinkles
were now more plainly visible, the jaws seemed to be more retreating,
the cheeks were sunken, the cheek-bones projecting, the eyes, small
and weak, showed tears that slowly trickled down.

Suddenly the old hag gave a low groan, which Bob attributed to some
pain or other, and turned away. He noticed that she was trembling,
and thought it was the weakness of her extreme old age. He was
puzzled by these movements of hers, and felt sure that they meant
no good. After a few minutes she, turned again, and beckoned to
him to follow. She led the way into the house. On reaching the
door Bob hesitated, and stood without looking in. He saw a large
apartment occupying all the lower story of the old mill, with some
rude seats and rough beds. A long ladder led up to the upper story.
The old woman beckoned for him to come in, and Bob did not like to
refuse. So he went in. She then brought forth some cold mutton and
black bread, which she offered him. Bob was ravenously hungry; but
at that moment an idea came to him--a suspicion that was created
by the very sinister aspect and very singular behavior of the old
crone. The suspicion was, that it was drugged or poisoned. This
suspicion was not at all in accordance with the idea that they were
keeping him for a ransom, but it was an irrepressible one, and
though hungry, he did not dare to eat. So he shook his head. Upon
this the old hag took the things away, and Bob went out again.

The dirty children had been playing with the donkey all this
time, and still kept up their sport but in the midst of their
sport they still had curiosity enough to keep their eyes from
time to time upon the strange boy who had come thus suddenly into
their midst. The furtive, sinister glances of their wicked black
eyes had something uncanny in them, which made Bob feel more
uncomfortable than ever. He took a seat upon a stone in front of
the house, on one side of the door-way, and looked all around.
The mountains arose there, rising first gently in an easy acclivity,
and then sweeping up with a greater incline. Thei