hock I had
to hurry home?"

"I am afraid we are to blame for that, sir, though I give you my word
of honor we had no idea any human being would spring the trap. You
see, my chum here is devoted to getting flashlight pictures of wild
animals and birds in their native haunts. To do that he has to place
his camera at night, and with a bait coax the little creature to set
the trap off. And it happened, sir, that you ran across the cord
connected with the trigger of the flashlight gun."

"Is this the truth you are telling me, boy?" demanded the puzzled
hermit.

"Will, do you happen to have that proof with you?" called out Frank.
Upon hearing this, the other hastened up, though there was a satisfied
smirk on his face, as though he had accomplished something daring.

As Frank believed he had heard a soft click just before this, he could
give a pretty good guess as to what the other had been up to.

Upon the proof being produced Frank stepped forward and held it out to
the old gentleman, who took it eagerly. He even smiled faintly as he
saw himself in the act of falling, and with all the elements of sudden
surprise and alarm connected with his action.

"At least this satisfies me that you had no intention of giving me
such a bad fright. I can forgive you in part, because I, too, am
interested in photography, which is indeed my only recreation nowadays
besides reading. But you must not come here again. I do not allow
intruders, and if you had chanced to be seen by one of my men the
consequences might have been unpleasant for you."

"Then we will go away at once, sir," said Frank; "though we'll always
be glad we met you, Mr. Dennison."

The recluse frowned again as though he remembered that he had a reason
for not wishing to hold intercourse with others. And seeing he did not
mean to continue the conversation any further Frank nodded to Will,
after which they walked away.

When they looked back a minute later Mr. Dennison was still standing
there as though in a deep study. Somehow he interested Frank very much
indeed, for the boy realized that there must be some very good reason
for his shunning his kind.

They had almost reached the hole in the fence, when, just as had
happened on the preceding day, there came that strange cry. Will
thought it might be the screech of a peacock, though he could not
remember having seen such a fowl strutting about the lawn.

"It may be what you say," admitted Frank, "but when you hea