"

"I have arranged for that portion of the business. Your knapsack, well
filled by your mother, and everything you may need during a few weeks
in the woods, is hidden a couple of miles down the road. I brought the
things as far away from the farm as I thought necessary, and then left
them in the bushes."

CHAPTER IV

ON THE PASCATAQUA

Twenty-four hours after Stephen Kidder had warned Walter Neal against
returning to Portsmouth the latter was skirting the west bank of the
Pascataqua River, within sight of the tract of land whereon he hoped to
see at some day a grist-mill owned by himself.

When Stephen selected such goods as he thought Walter might need during
his enforced retreat, he did not neglect anything which would possibly
be useful to the fugitive, and the result was that when the young
messenger started through the pathless forest, his load was so heavy as
to retard his progress very decidedly.

Therefore it was that on the following morning he had not yet arrived
at his proposed destination, although it was but a comparatively short
distance from Portsmouth.

He had slept in the woods where night overtook him, and at the first
faint light of day was making a frugal breakfast of the bread and
cheese sent by his mother.

When the gloom of night had been dispersed by the heralds of the
approaching sun, Walter was at that point on the river from which he
could see the landmarks of his tract, and the knowledge that he was
about to enter on his own possessions served to cheer his drooping
spirits.

"If it is necessary to skulk around here in the woods to avoid being
seen by Sam Haines, there is no reason why I should not make the most
of my time," he said to himself, as hope began to spring up once more
in his breast. "There is little chance I shall be able to raise any
money for the mill now, when I have been defrauded of a goodly portion
of my poor possessions, but I can at least make preparations for the
day when I shall be in a position to carry out my plans. It is better
to work than remain idle."

It was the first time since he took leave of his friend Stephen that
the mental burden had been lightened, and now he pressed forward
eagerly, impatient to begin the work resolved upon.

There was very much which he could do toward making ready for the
erection of that wished-for mill, and he felt confident the labour
would not be useless, although performed so far in advance of the
building