The woods seemed very dark by that time, as they half pulled, half
carried the lamb homeward. Darker still it grew. Howls could be heard in
the distance. The children hurried on. Suddenly a wolf barked on their
very trail. They were then within sight of the house, but with horror
they saw that the gate was closed. The hastening wolf had caught the
scent of the lamb. The children tried to shout, but they could make no
sound.

Chewannick bounded ahead. With desperate force he sprang upon the fence,
grasped the top, and fairly fell over the other side. He had the door
unbarred for Elizabeth and the lamb, as the fiery eyes of the wolf could
be seen but a few rods up the path. The gate was closed in time to shut
the creature out, while Elizabeth's surprised mother caught up her little
girl as if she feared the wolf might even then spring through the bolted
door.

THE CRYSTAL HILLS.

Those who sailed the sea came always to these shores with accounts of the
white and shining hills seen far back over the land. From other travelers
were gathered wonderful tales of lakes stocked with delicate fish, fine
forests rich in game, and fair valleys abounding in fruits, nuts, and
vines.

The immediate needs of the settlements held most of the colonists close
to their homes, but the spirit of adventure was too strong for Darby
Field. It was soon reported among the few households of Exeter that he
was going to explore the country to the North, an enterprise which was of
great interest to them all. He hoped to find gold and precious stones
added to all the other wonders. It was thought that a trip of a hundred
miles might take him to the river of Canada, or perhaps to the Great
Lakes.

Susan, Edward, Joseph, and all the other children stood about with
wide-eyed wonder at the courage and daring that could carry one so far
into an unknown wilderness. With two Indians as companions, and a pack
strapped to his back, Darby Field waved his good-bye to the group of
settlers and started off.

For some forty miles they traveled past lakes large and small, over
Indian trails, and through pathless forests. From this time on they
seemed to be tramping upward. Field felt sure that they had reached the
lower slopes of the shining hills so often seen from the sea.

[Illustration]

At last they climbed to a moss-grown level. Here they found an encampment
of some two hundred Indians, who proved to be friendly. The travelers
rested and l