n any order. The subject never was
mentioned or thought of. And so, that day, Peter was the last one. If
Blair or I had fallen or been overcome by the cold,--which is what we
know must have happened,--we would have been seen by Peter, of course.
But when he gave out, no one looked backward."

"You had been trudging like that long?" asked Crane.

"Oh, yes, for hours. We were all pretty nearly all in, but Joshua
wouldn't let us stop,--dared not, in fact, for he knew the danger of
that storm far better than we did. No, Mr. Crane, on the part of Blair
and myself, I want to say that we had no thought other than our
individual progress. That was all any one could think of, as Peter
himself would say if he could speak."

"He has spoken," returned Crane, quietly; "he did say it."

"What!" exclaimed the two men together.

"Yes," the older man went on; "I think I will tell you, though I had
half decided not to: What do you say, Mother?"

Mrs. Crane looked up. Her expression of dumb despair gave way to a look
of quiet peace as she said, slowly: "Yes, dear, tell them. But let it be
held confidential."

"You'll promise that, boys, won't you?" asked Crane, and only half
understanding Blair and Shelby promised.

"Well, it was this way," Crane began, "You know we couldn't get letters
from you chaps all the time you were away,--except the few early ones.
Of course we knew that before you went, but we didn't realize how
lonely we would be without Peter Boots. Whenever he has been away before
we could hear from him frequently. Julie is a dear girl, but she is a
busy little butterfly, and many a time my wife and I are alone of an
evening."

"And we're happy enough together," Mrs. Crane put in, gently; "but being
alone, we naturally talked a great deal of Peter, and--and we couldn't
help remembering the Gypsy's warning."

"Oh, I'd forgotten that!" exclaimed Blair. "What was it, now?"

"A prophecy that Peter would go on a long journey, and would meet with a
terrible death. Now, the prophecy is fulfilled." Mrs. Crane's face, as
she gazed upward, her eyes filled with tears, was like that of a seeress
or prophetess. She appeared exalted, and unconscious of her grief for
the moment.

"And there was further prophecy," Benjamin Crane continued, "that after
his death, Peter would return. And when I say he has done so, I expect
you to respect my story and not to doubt its truth."

"We shall most certainly respect your story, and no o