; for a brave and a strong man naturally feels that he
can fight a stout battle for life in all or any circumstances. But part
of this prop (namely, strength) having been removed by his recent
accident, he felt like a miserable child.

Doubtless it is good for strong men to be brought thus low sometimes,
just to prove to them, what they are by nature very slow to believe,
that they, quite as much as the weak and helpless ones of this world,
are dependent at all times on their fellows.

On reaching the end of the outer cave, the hunter turned to the left,
stooped down in order to pass below a small natural arch, and finally
stood still in the middle of another cavern, on the floor of which he
deposited his burden with much tenderness and care.

There was light in this cave, but it was so dim as to be insufficient to
illuminate the surrounding objects. March perceived on looking up that
it entered through a small aperture in the side of the cavern near the
roof, which was not more than twelve feet from the floor. There were
several pieces of charred wood on one side of the cave, in which a few
sparks of fire still lingered.

Without saying a word the owner of this strange abode went towards
these, and, blowing them into a flame, heaped large logs upon them, so
that, in ten minutes, the place was brilliantly illuminated with a ruddy
blaze that did one's heart good to look upon.

By the light of the fire March perceived that he had been deposited on a
couch of pine-branches. He was about to make other observations, when
his captor turned to him and said--

"I'll go an' see to the horse, and be back in a minute; so keep yer mind
easy."

"And, pray, what name am I to call my host by?" said March, unable to
restrain his curiosity any longer.

A dark, almost fierce frown covered the man's face, as he said angrily,
"Boy, curiosity is a bad thing--anywise, it's bad here. I've brought
you to this cave 'cause you'd ha' died i' the woods if I hadn't. Don't
ask questions about what don't consarn ye."

"Nay, friend, I meant no offence," replied March. "I've no desire to
pry into any man's secrets. Nevertheless, it's but natural to want to
know how to address a man when ye converse with him."

"True, true," replied the other, somewhat mollified. "Call me Dick;
it's as good a name as any, and better than my own."

There was a slight touch of bitterness in the tone in which this was
said, as the man turned on his he