that the line of the
Perkins Tract was as Mr. Sherwood claimed, the court would have to
vacate the injunction and Uncle Henry could risk going ahead and cutting
and hauling timber from the tract. Uncle Henry believed Toby
knew exactly where the line lay, for he had been a landloper, or
timber-runner in this vicinity when the original survey was made,
forty-odd years before.

It was plain to Nan, hiding in the bushes and watching the old man's
face, that he was dreadfully tempted. Working as hard as he might,
summer and winter alike, Toby Vanderwiller had scarcely been able to
support his wife and grandson. His occasional attacks of rheumatism so
frequently put him back. If Raffer took away the farm and the shelter
they had, what would become of them?

Uncle Henry was so short of ready money himself that he could not assume
the mortgage if Raffer undertook to foreclose.

"Oh, dear me! If Momsey would only write to me that she is really rich,"
thought Nan, "I'd beg her for the money. I'll tell her all about poor
Toby in my very next letter and maybe, if she gets all that money from
the courts in Scotland, she will let me give Toby enough to pay off the
mortgage."

She never for a moment doubted that Uncle Henry's contention about the
timber tract line was right. He must be correct, and old Toby must know
it! That is the way Nan Sherwood looked at the matter.

But now, seeing Toby turning back along the corduroy road, and slowly
shuffling toward home, she stepped out of the hovering bushes and walked
hastily after him. She overtook him not many yards beyond the spot where
he had stood talking with Raffer. He looked startled when she spoke his
name.

"Well! You air a sight for sore eyes, Sissy," he said; but added,
nervously, "How in Joe Tunket did you git in the swamp? Along the road?"

"Yes, sir," said Nan.

"Come right erlong this way?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did ye meet anybody?" demanded old Toby, eyeing her sharply.

"Mr. Raffer, driving his old buckskin horse. That's all."

"Didn't say nothin' to ye, did he?" asked Toby, curiously.

"Not a word," replied Nan, honestly. "I'm afraid of him and I hid in the
bushes till he had gone by."

"Huh!" sighed Toby, as though relieved. "Jest as well. Though Ged
wouldn't ha' dared touch ye, Sissy."

"Never mind. I'm here now," said Nan, brightly. "And I want you to show
me your house and introduce me to Mrs. Vanderwiller."

"Sure. My ol' woman will be glad to see ye,"