lead the way. A long walk in one direction was followed by a tramp of
a still greater distance in another with no apparent intention of arriving
anywhere.

And both MacLester and the stranger were suffering for water. They had
crossed a small stream where there were still pools of good water,
notwithstanding the severe drouth, early in the morning. It was decided
to revisit it before starting for the lake. But here, too, long-continued
efforts were a flat failure.

It is a dreadful feeling to realize that you know not which way to turn
to reach any given point. Lost! It is a word whose terrors must be
experienced to be fully understood.

"Come, now! I'll be the guide, and just you keep with me. We'll get out
of here somehow," said MacLester resolutely. Thus far the stranger, for
the most part, had been the pilot. It was past noon. Neither had tasted
food since the preceding day and both were parched for water. The sun beat
down till even through the thick screen of pine and deciduous branches
the heat was trying. No bit of breeze relieved the sultriness.

But Dave's best efforts seemed fruitless. The only reward in a long, long
tramp was to lead the weary pair to a small stream. But even this was a
most fortunate discovery and both drank freely, then drank again.

As they rested the stranger was much depressed. After a long silence he
said in hopeless tones: "What for a man ye may think me, I dunno; but the
saints bear me witness, me bye, never did I sit out to drag ye where ye
be. It's all past goin' further I am, and ye've got to lave me. An' if
ever at last ye come to that lake, go right at wanst to that clubhouse
and tell the gintleman who's stoppin' there, for the love of hivin' to
come quickly where I be. It's Daddy O'Lear that wants him, say--poor--poor
Daddy O'Lear."

"What's that?" exclaimed MacLester. "Now if this _ain't_ a pretty mess!
I was sure your name wasn't Smith, but----"

"An' I'll be staying thin, till ye come fer me; but ye'll be tellin'
nobody but the wan man that I'm here, be sure."

"You are going along with me," was the decisive answer. "Then I'll tell
no one anything. I don't want anything to do with your friend. There's a
way out of this howling wilderness somehow! We've got to move! It will be
dark again in two hours!"

But even a strong tugging at his arm would not persuade Mr. O'Lear, if
such were his real name, to rise and start.

"You go with me or you'll go to jail where someo