at present," said the doctor quietly to his
assistants. "There are various methods of removing an obstruction. I
have found various methods."

And so The Kid, with Mrs. Carroll, Tim, Nora, Eileen, Jimmie, and
little Michael, set of for Jumping Rock at the lake. After the
procession had formed, however, another difficulty arose. Michael
refused point blank to go, and on being urged threw himself down upon
the ground and kicked and yelled vociferously.

"Indade, there's no use of tryin' to make him do what he don't want,"
said his mother, with a conviction born of long experience of Michael's
tempers and ways.

The procession halted, The Kid looking helpless and foolish. In vain he
offered his watch, his pistol with the charge drawn. All his
possessions availed not at all.

In his desperation he was on the point of proceeding to extreme
measures when a voice, singularly sweet and musical, sounded behind him.

"Perhaps I can help," it said.

The Kid swung round, hat in hand. It was Marion, the Old Prospector's
daughter.

"I shall be profoundly thankful. And for that matter doubtless he will,
too, for I had come to the conclusion that the situation demanded a
change of tactics."

The girl sat down beside Michael, and lifting him to her knee began to
beguile him from his present misery with promises of songs, and
snatches of tales, whose powers of enchantment had evidently been
proved in similar circumstances, till finally his interest was
diverted, his curiosity excited, and at length Michael was persuaded to
join the company with smiling expectation of good things to come.

"I wish you would confide to me the secret of your power, Miss--" said
The Kid, with a most courteous bow.

"I am Marion Mowbray," she said simply.

"Miss Mowbray," continued The Kid, "I know your father very well,
and"--looking into the girl's eyes, so very piercing and so very
black--"I should like to know his daughter, too."

But Marion devoted herself chiefly to Michael, giving such attention as
she could to the older and more active and more venturous Eileen and
Jimmie, and The Kid found his duties to Mrs. Carroll, Tim, and Nora so
engrossing that he had little time to bestow any further attention upon
the girl.

While Marion with tales and songs held the younger portion in an
enthralled circle about her upon the Jumping Rock, The Kid upon the
lake shore below was using his most strenuous endeavours to make the
hour pass happily f