but O, if he is not there!"

Fabens started on a run for Troffater's, and met two neighbors who had
just come from his house; they had seen no Clinton; and assured him
Clinton could not be there. They all hastened to Fabens', and met
Julia and the parents; but no Clinton could be heard from. Darkness
extinguished the last gleam of heaven, and they shuddered and wept in
agonies of grief for the lost boy.

"How can we let the night pass without our lamb?" cried Mother Fabens.

"Dear, dear boy!--why _did_ I let him go, when I cannot bear to have
him out of my sight? Why _did_ I let him go?" sobbed Julia frantically.

"Will not God be gracious? O will he not be gracious?" cried Fabens.

"There! I thought that little fawn was a forerunner of something!"
exclaimed Mother Fabens. "That little fawn that came here last June.
It has haunted my mind ever since. O I fear it did not come here
without a warning?"

"But we let it go again," cried Julia; "and will not my pretty, pretty
fawn be given back to his mother again? O! O!"

"An Indian shot a fawn the same day we let that go, and in the same
direction he went. I always thought it was that handsome fellow," said
Major Fabens.

"Mercy! it cannot be the fawn was a forerunner! O it cannot be that I
shall not get my Clinton again!" cried Matthew, looking as if ready to
reel to the ground. "O friends, do rouse the neighbors! if he's only
lost, I'm afraid the wolves or panthers will catch him. You know how
the wolves have howled of late; and I heard a panther scream last
night, I thought. Do rouse the neighbors to advise and help!"

The friends seized torches and were away to the first dwelling. The
news flew around as fast as distance would permit; and by nine o'clock
the whole neighborhood were together with throbbing hearts and anxious
looks.

"I fetched my horn and cow-bell," said Mr. Waldron; "I made a noise on
the way. Horns will scare off painters, and wolves don't like tootin'
or clatter a mite."

"And I brought mine," added Uncle Walter.

"And I mine," added Teezle.

"We'll blow horns and ring bells," said Teezle; "and you, Colwell and
Troffater, go and call out the Indians. They're dreadful good to scare
off animals and look for lost children."

"Do, for Heaven's sake,--do what you can, if it is dark!" ejaculated
Julia fainting with grief.

"O, I know you'll not leave a thing undone!" added Matthew,
beseechingly. "God give us strength to