mp
on his forehead, a big rent in his trousers. He was one, of those
men of whom others gather wisdom, for, after that, everybody in the
land of the hills knew better than to jump off the cars or tie his
hound to the rear platform.

And dogs came to know, after a little while, that the roaring
dragon was really afraid of them and would run like a very coward
if it saw a dog coming across the fields. Every small cur that
lived in sight of it lay in the tall grass, and when he saw the
dragon coming, chased him off the farm of his master.

Among those who got off the train at Hillsborough that day was a
big, handsome youth of some twenty years. In all the crowd there
were none had ever seen him before. Dressed in the height of
fashion, he was a figure so extraordinary that all eyes observed
him as he made his way to the tavern. Trove and Polly and Mrs.
Vaughn were in that curious throng on the platform, where a depot
was being built.

"My! What a splendid-looking fellow," said Polly, as the stranger
passed,

Trove had a swift pang of jealousy that moment. Turning, he saw
Riley Brooke--now known as the "Old Rag Doll"--standing near them
in a group of villagers.

"I tell you, he's a thief," the boy heard him saying, and the words
seemed to blister as they fell; and ever after, when he thought of
them, a great sternness lay like a shadow on his brow.

"I must go," said he, calmly turning to Polly. "Let me help you
into the wagon."

When they were gone, he stood a moment thinking. He felt as if he
were friendless and alone.

"You're a giant to day," said a friend, passing him; but Trove made
no answer. Roused incomprehensibly, his heavy muscles had become
tense, and he had an odd consciousness of their power. The people
were scattering, and he walked slowly down the street. The sun was
low, but he thought not of home or where he should spend the night.
It was now the third day after his arrest. Since noon he had been
looking for Darrel, but the tinker's door had been locked for days,
according to the carpenter who was at work below. For an hour
Trove walked, passing up and down before that familiar stairway, in
the hope of seeing his friend. Daylight was dim when the tinker
stopped by the stairs and began to feel for his key. The young man
was quickly at the side of Darrel.

"God be praised!" said the latter; "here is the old Dial an' the
strong an' noble Trove. I heard o' thy trouble, boy, far o