r mazy path, and over which the
summits of yet loftier and more rugged steeps towered heavenward.

Over this valley they had for some time gazed in silence, till now the
broad sun sank behind the mountains, and the shrill whistle of the
quail, which had been momently audible during the whole afternoon,
ceased suddenly; four or five night-hawks might be seen wheeling high in
pursuit of their insect prey through the thin atmosphere, and the sharp
chirrup of a solitary katydid, the last of its summer tribe, was the
only sound that interrupted the faint rush of the rapid stream, which
came more clearly on the ear now that the louder noises of busy babbling
daylight had yielded to the stillness of approaching night. Before long
a bright gleam shot through the tufted outline of a dark wooded hill,
and shortly after, just when a gray and misty shadow had settled down
upon the half-seen landscape, the broad full moon came soaring up above
the tree-tops, pouring her soft and silver radiance over the lovely
valley, and investing its rare beauties with something of romance--a
sentiment which belongs not to the gay, gaudy sunshine.

Just at this moment, while neither of the friends felt much inclined to
talk, the door opened suddenly, and Timothy's black head was thrust in,
with a query if "they didn't need t' waax candles?"

"Not yet, Tim," answered Archer, "not yet for an hour or so--but hold a
minute--how have the horses fed?"

"T' ould gray drayed off directly, and he's gane tull t' loike bricks--
but t' bay's no but sillyish--he keeps a breaking oot again for iver--
and sae Ay'se give him a hot maash enow!"

"That's right. I saw he wasn't quite up to the mark the last ten miles
or so. If he don't dry off now, give him a cordial ball out of the
tool-chest--one of the number 3--camphire and cardamums and ginger; a
clove of garlic, and treacle quantum sic, hey, Frank, that will set him
to rights, I warrant it. Now have you dined yourself, or supped, as the
good people here insist on calling it?"

"Weel Ay wot, have I, sur," responded Timothy; "an hour agone and
better."

"Exactly; then step out yourself into the kitchen, and make us a good
cup of our own coffee, strong and hot, do you see? and when that's done,
bring it in with the candles; and, hark you, run up to the bed-room and
bring my netting needles down, and the ball of silk twist, and the front
of that new game-bag, I began the other night. If you were not as lazy