's, but he was
always in "the hoss business."

Then Tunk lit his torch and went away. Trove lay down, pulled his
blanket about him, and went to sleep.

XXIII

A New Problem

When Trove woke in the morning, a package covered with white paper
lay on the blanket near his hand. He rose and picked it up, and
saw his own name in a strange handwriting on the wrapper. He
turned it, looking curiously at seal and superscription. Tearing
it open, he found to his great surprise a brief note and a roll of
money. "Herein is a gift for Mr. Sidney Trove," said the note.
"The gift is from a friend unknown, who prays God that wisdom may
go with it, so it prove a blessing to both."

Trove counted the money carefully. There were $3000 in bank bills.
He sat a moment, thinking; then he rose, and began searching for
tracks around the shanty. He found none, however, in the dead
leaves which he could distinguish from those of Tunk and himself.

"It must be from my father," said he,--a thought that troubled him
deeply, for it seemed to bring ill news--that his father would
never make himself known.

"He must have seen me last night," Trove went on. "He must even
have been near me--so near he could have touched me with his hand.
If I had only wakened!"

He put the money in his pocket and made ready to go. He would
leave at once in quest of Darrel and take counsel of him. It was
early, and he could see the first light of the sun, high in the
tall towers of hemlock. The forest rang with bird songs. He went
to the brook near by, and drank of its clear, cold water, and
bathed in it. Then he walked slowly to Robin's Inn, where Mrs.
Vaughn had begun building a fire. She observed the troubled look
in his face, but said nothing of it then. Trove greeted her and
went to the stable to feed his mare. As he neared the door he
heard a loud "Whoa." He entered softly, and the big barn, that
joined the stable, began to ring with noise. He heard Tunk
shouting "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" at the top of his voice. Peering
through, he could see the able horseman leaning back upon a pair of
reins tied to a beam in front of him. His cry and attitude were
like those of a jockey driving a hard race. He saw Trove, and
began to slow up.

"You are a brave man--there's no doubt of it," said the teacher.

"What makes ye think so?" Tunk inquired soberly, but with a glowing
eye.

"If you were not brave, you'd scare yourself to death, yelling