ee if their opinions agree with mine."

Daisy saw him first, as Weil was handling the oars, and she called her
companion's attention to him. Archie called his name.

"Come here!" was Roseleaf's reply. "I have winged a black duck and I
cannot leave."

A few more movements of the oars brought the boat to the shore, and the
surprise of its occupants can be imagined when they saw the tableau that
awaited them. Hannibal was still groveling on the earth, and the
attitude of Roseleaf plainly showed the cause of the negro's terror.

"What has he done?" was the first question, and it was Daisy's voice
that asked it.

"Let him tell," replied Roseleaf, nonchalantly. "Tell the lady what you
did, Hannibal."

With a courage born of his knowledge of the young lady's kind heart,
Hannibal now turned his attention toward her. He begged her to plead
with his would-be executioner to give him one more chance for his life,
and reiterated his promises to cease meddling with all of their affairs
if this was granted. As he spoke Daisy crept nearer to Roseleaf's side,
and when he paused for a moment to gain breath, she laid her fair hand
on the rifle.

"You would not kill a fellow creature?" she said, gently.

"A fellow creature?" he retorted. "No! But a wolf, a snake, a
vulture--yes."

She shook her head slowly, while Mr. Weil looked on, uncertain what to
do or say. He wanted more than anything else in his life to lay hands
upon the cause of all her woes.

"You have not told me yet what he has done," she said.

"He shall tell you," replied Roseleaf, sharply. "Stand up, Hannibal, and
answer truly the questions I am about to propound to you."

The crouching figure tottered to his feet. The negro was weak from fear.

"Did you try twice this morning to murder me?"

"Yes," replied the shaking voice. "But I was insane with my troubles--I
did not realize what I was doing--I--"

Daisy's slight hand, still on the barrel of the rifle, was bearing it
steadily to the ground.

"Once," she said to Roseleaf, impressively, "you told me you loved me!
Have you regard enough left to grant me a favor?"

He shook his head.

"There are favors," he said, "that are crimes. It is one's duty to
exterminate vermin, in the interest of the human race."

But, even as he spoke, she was having her way. Her slight strength had
taken the weapon from him.

Then, with the face of a forgiving angel she turned toward the negro and
uttered very softly one w