n
voices followed what had seemed to be the weird, uncanny call of the
wild-beast, he went to the door and opened it, so that he could better
listen.

Joe and the negro had not been in actual view of Layson's cabin, up to
that time. A rocky corner, rising at the trail's side, had concealed it.
Now they stepped around this and the lighted door and windows of the
little structure stood out, despite increasing darkness, plainly in
their view.

Almost instantly old Neb recognized the silhouette of Layson's figure
there against the fire-light from within.

"Marse _Frank_!" he cried. "Marse _Frank!_"

Layson, startled by the unexpected sound of the familiar voice there in
the wilderness, rushed from the door, took Neb's trembling hand and led
him to the cabin.

"Neb, old Neb!" he cried. "By all that's wonderful! How did you get here
alone? I thought you all were to come up to-morrow. Where is Aunt
'Lethe, and the Colonel, and--and--"

Neb, his troubles all forgotten as quickly as a child's, stood wringing
his young master's hand with extravagant delight. Joe Lorey disappeared
like a flitting shadow of the coming night.

"Dey're all down at de railroad, suh," said Neb. "Dey're all down at de
railroad. Got heah a day befo' dey t'ought dey would, suh, an' sent me
on ahead to let you know. I been wanderin' aroun' fo' a long time
a-tryin' fo' to fin' yo'. Dat teamster what gib me a lif', he tol' me
dat de trail war cleah from whar he dropped me to yo' cabin, but I
couldn't fin' it, suh, an' I got los'."

"And the others all are waiting at the railroad for me? I was going down
to meet them to-morrow."

"Dey don't expect you till to-morrow, now, suh. Ev'rybody tol' 'em that
you couldn't git dar till to-morrow. I reckon dey'll be com'fable. Fo'ty
men was tryin' fo' to make 'em so when _I_ lef." The old darky laughed.
"Looked like dat dem chaps wat's layin' out dat railroad, dar, ain't
seen a woman's face fo' yeahs an' yeahs, de way dey flocked aroun'. Ev'y
tent in de destruction camp war at deir suhvice in five minutes."

Frank was busy at the fire with frying-pan and bacon. The old negro was
worn out. The young man disregarded his uneasy protests and made him sit
in comfort while he cooked a supper for him.

"So you got lost! Who finally set you straight? I heard you talking,
there, with someone."

"A young pusson, suh," said Neb, with dignity. Lorey had befriended him,
he knew, at last; but he had scared him into pa