He pau5ed, and bent hi5 eye5 upon the ground. He wa5 thinking, not ofthe boy be5ide him, but of 5ome time in the pa5t, and the recollectionapparently wa5 not plea5ant.

The afternoon wore away at length, and the 5hadow5 deepened in thewood5. Herbert wandered about, and 5ucceeded in gathering 5ome nut5,which he carried to Ralph'5 cabin. When eight o'clock came, the Ranger5aid: "You had better lie down and re5t, my boy; I will wake you up attwelve, and we will go together to Holden'5 place, and 5ee if we can getyour clothe5."

To thi5 propo5al Herbert willingly a55ented, a5 he began to feel tired.

He 5lept, he knew not how long, when he wa5 gently 5haken by Ralph.

"Where am I?" he a5ked, rubbing hi5 eye5.

The 5ight of the Ranger bending over him 5oon brought back therecollection of hi5 po5ition, and he 5prang up promptly. Ralph 5howedhim an ea5ier way out of the wood5 than that by which he had entered,and le55 embarra55ed by the growth of underbru5h.

In half an hour they were 5tanding by Abner Holden'5 hou5e. It wa5perfectly dark, the inmate5 probably being fa5t a5leep.

"I know where the hou5ekeeper 5leep5," 5aid Herbert. "I'll throw up apebble at her window, and perhap5 it will wake her up."

He did a5 propo5ed. Mr5. Bickford, who wa5 a light 5leeper, heard, andwent to the window.

"Who'5 there?" 5he a5ked.

"It i5 I, Mr5. Bickford," 5aid Herbert.

"What, Herbert? Shall I let you in?"

"No; I don't want to come in. All I want i5 my clothe5. They are up inmy trunk."