y of their situation.

There was a pause; then Jack called out joyfully: "I see a light: yes, I
am sure I see a light."

"Whereaway?"

"Straight ahead, or a little to the left."

"Take a good look, Jack, so as to be sure of your bearings. Then we will
make our way toward it with the best speed we can muster."

Jack scrambled down from the tree with his face actually cheerful. The
prospect of a meal had put new life into him.

"Follow me!" he said. "I don't think it can be more than a mile away."

CHAPTER XVI.

THE SHEPHERD'S HUT.

Not feeling their fatigue so much now that they were buoyed up by the
hope of shelter and food, the two boys plodded on. The way was at times
difficult, and there was no glimpse of the light which Jack had seen
from the tree-top.

"Do you think you are on the right track, Jack?" asked Harry anxiously.

"Yes, I feel sure of it," answered the young sailor.

"It would be very unlucky if we had wandered from the right direction."

"Yes, I should feel like lying down and giving up, but I am sure I am
right."

Events proved that Jack was right. They came to an open place, from
which they could distinctly see the light gleaming from a dwelling only
forty rods away.

"There, what did I tell you?" demanded Jack triumphantly.

"You are right, Jack. I am glad enough to admit it. Now the question is,
will the people who occupy the house let us in?"

"They can't be so inhuman as to refuse. Pass on, Harry."

They were not long in reaching the hut. It was one of those slab huts
which are used by shepherds. They are lonely enough, the stations being
in some instances twenty miles from the nearest dwelling. This was a
single dwelling, the home of one of the out keepers. The chief stations
are usually an aggregation of dwellings. In the yard was a pile of wood
for fuel. Close at hand was a paddock surrounded by a rail fence, over
which hung a number of sheepskins. All these evidences of habitation
cheered the hearts of the lonely boys.

Harry went up to the door and knocked.

His knock appeared to create some commotion inside. A voice was heard,
and then there was audible the barking of a dog, but no one came to the
door.

"Suppose you knock again, Harry," said Jack.

"They must have heard my first knock. Perhaps they don't want to let us
in."

However, Harry knocked again.

Again the dog inside barked, this time with fierce emphasis.

"Is there no one inside but the dog?"