ut to lay hold of the article in question, but the angry boy
pushed his hand away.

"This watch and chain were a birthday present from my mother four years
ago," said he, taking the watch from his pocket and unhooking the chain,
"and the fact is recorded on the inside of the case, if you have sense
enough to read it, which I begin to doubt. You are at liberty to look at
them, but you mustn't try to get out of the door with them."

Nels took the articles in question and looked fixedly at Rodney, as if
he did not know whether to smile at him or get angry. He decided on the
former course when one of his companions said, in an audible whisper:

"You sartingly be mistook, Nels. That abolition hoss-thief was a mighty
palavering sort of chap, but he didn't have no such grit."

"Is that what you take me for," exclaimed Rodney,--"a horse-thief and an
abolitionist besides? You certainly are mistaken, for I haven't got that
low down in the world yet. Jeff, you are the only man in the party who
seems to have a level head on his shoulders, and I wish you would
explain this thing to me. Begin at the beginning so that I may know just
how the case stands."

Before Jeff could reply to the request one of the small army of hunting
dogs which found shelter in the wood-cutters' camp set up a yelp, the
rest of the pack joined in, and for a minute or two there was a terrific
hubbub. When it lulled a little the hail rang out sharp and clear from
some place in the surrounding woods:

"Hallo the house! Don't let your dogs bite!"

The words brought all the wood-choppers to their feet and sent all
except two of them--Nels and the man who had taken his seat near the
door--out into the darkness. These remained behind in obedience to a
sign from Jeff, and Rodney knew that they meant to keep an eye on him.

"Who's out there?" he inquired.

"Don't you recognize his voice?" asked Nels in reply. "There's more'n
one of 'em, and they are the men who have been hunting for you for a
week past."

"I am glad to hear it," said Rodney. "Perhaps they will be able to clear
away some of the ridiculous suspicions you seem to have got into your
heads concerning me."

"Get out, ye whelps," shouted Jeff, when he stepped out of the door;
whereupon the dogs ceased their clamor and slunk away behind the cabin
to escape the clubs he threw among them to enforce obedience to his
order. "Come on, strangers. They won't pester you."

Then came a tramping of hoofs,