the doctor, turning again to look at the smoke.

"It's a bad business," said Timothy, carefully studying the doctor's
face.

"Yes, it's a bad business, making whiskey, or selling it, or drinking
it; but paying a tax to the government does not make it any better. I
believe every dollar that comes to the government from such a source is
a curse."

Timothy drew a long breath.

"You're right, sor. I'm not beholden to the stuff myself; but yer
honor's done me a good turn, and I couldn't see ye bringin' trouble on
yerself by askin' too many questions. It mightn't be--pop'lar, sor."

The doctor asked no more questions, but he watched the blue smoke more
curiously than ever, wondering much about the outlaws who carried on
their secret trade in the mountain fastnesses. He had been thinking of
them that very morning as he rode along, with the reins lying loosely on
his knee, when suddenly Prince gave a start that roused his driver. A
small figure stepped out from the shadow of a rock, and stood close
beside the gig, saying,

"Would you come to my feyther, sir?"

"Who is your father?" asked the doctor.

"He's sick this three days," answered the boy.

"What is his name? Where do you live?"

"It's not far, sir," said the boy, without answering the question.

"Well, jump in here;" and the doctor held down his hand.

"Ye'll not be riding, sir; it's a bit off the road."

The doctor hesitated a moment, then fastened Prince securely in the edge
of the woods, and with his box in his hand prepared to follow his guide.

"Now, then, Johnny, go ahead."

"My name is Conny, sir," said the boy.

"Conny, is it? And what else?"

"Just Conny, sir;" and the boy led the way rapidly through what looked
like a pathless tangle, until below a sharp ledge of rocks they struck a
little stream by whose side they found a narrow but easy passage into
the very heart of the wood.

[Illustration: "THEY CAME UPON A SMALL WEATHER-BEATEN CABIN."]

"Surely no human being can live here," thought the doctor; but at that
very moment they came upon a small weather-beaten cabin, so low and gray
that one might easily have passed it unnoticed among the rocks that hung
over it, and the bushes that crowded around and in front of it. The
roof, thatched with bark, had fallen in at one end, and the place looked
as if it might have been forsaken for years. But the boy led him around
to the rear, and they entered quite a comfortable room, with a decent
bed