struck eleven, and the peal of the clear notes on
the silent air cut short his meditations, and admonished him to
quicken his pace, or Ben would reach the place of rendezvous before
him. He entered the still shades of Pine Pleasant, but saw nothing of
his confederate. Seating himself on the familiar rock in the river, he
returned to his meditations.

He had hardly laid down his first proposition in solving the problem
of his future success, before he was startled by the discovery of a
bright light in the direction of the village. It was plainly a
building on fire, and his first impulse was to rush to the meeting
house and give the alarm; but prudence forbade. His business was with
the great world and the future, not with Redfield and the present.

A few moments later the church bell pealed its startling notes, and he
heard the cry of fire in the village. The building, whatever it was,
had become a mass of fierce flames, which no human arm could stay.

While he was watching the exciting spectacle, he heard footsteps in
the grove, and Ben Smart, out of breath and nearly exhausted, leaped
upon the rock.

"So you are here, Harry," gasped he.

"I am, Ben," replied Harry. "Where is the fire?"

"We have no time to waste now," panted Ben, rousing himself anew. "We
must be off at once."

Ben descended to the lower side of the rock, and hauled a small
flat-bottomed boat out of the bushes that grew on the river's brink.

"Where is the fire, Ben?" persisted Harry.

"Never mind the fire now; jump into the boat, and let us be off."

Harry obeyed, and Ben pushed off from the rock.

"Where are you going?" asked Harry, not much pleased either with the
imperative tone or the haughty reserve of his companion.

"Down the river. Take the paddle and steer her; the current will take
her along fast enough. I am so tired I can't do a thing more."

Harry took the paddle and seated himself in the stern of the boat,
while Ben, puffing and blowing like a locomotive, placed himself at
the bow.

"Tell me now where the fire is," said Harry, whose curiosity would not
be longer resisted.

"_Squire Walker's barn._"

CHAPTER IV

IN WHICH IT IS SHOWN THAT THE NAVIGATION OF THE RIVER IS DIFFICULT AND
DANGEROUS

Harry was astounded at this information. Ben was exhausted, as though
he had been running very hard; besides, he was much agitated--more so
than the circumstances of the occasion seemed to justify. In
connection with t