to do almost
anything to defend herself, if necessary.

Slowly the evening wore away, and anxiously Jean listened to every
sound. The man on the cot slept, and at times muttered words which the
girl could not understand. She felt inexpressibly lonely, and she
often glanced toward the small window as if expecting to see faces
peering in upon her. She did not dare to sleep lest the slashers
should come and catch her off guard. How she longed for Sam and Kitty.
What a comfort they would be.

At length she rose to her feet, crossed the room, opened the door and
looked out. It was not a dark night, but the moon, now almost at the
full, was invisible. A keen wind was driving over the land and it
sounded among the trees the same as it did before the storm she enjoyed
so much in the lodge by the lake. How weird appeared the great trees,
and she imagined she could see menacing forms watching her from their
sombre depths. She knew where lay the trail by which the slashers
would come, and she kept her eyes fixed in that direction. At the back
of the house another trail began, which led to the St. John River, so
Sam had told her, and passed the very place where the mast-cutters were
at work. This to the lonely girl seemed the trail of hope, while the
other was the trail of doom.

She was about to close the door, for the wind was piercing, when
casting a final glance toward the forest, she caught sight of dim forms
moving swiftly and silently toward the house. That they were the
dreaded slashers she had not the slightest doubt. Quickly she shut the
door, and hastened over to the cot. Norman opened his eyes and looked
at her in a dazed manner.

"They are coming!" she cried. "I have seen them!"

"Where are they?" the man asked, rising to a sitting position.

"Just out there," and she motioned to the right.

"Hurry up, then, and go into the other room. Bolt the door, and put
out the light."

Jean needed no further bidding. In another minute she had the door
securely fastened, and the candle blown out. She then took up her
position in a dark corner, where with fast-beating heart she waited to
hear what might take place in the adjoining room.

CHAPTER XXVII

THROUGH THE NIGHT AND THE STORM

In a few minutes the slashers arrived. Jean could hear them quite
distinctly, and her heart sank within her as she listened to their
laughter and rough talk. They were in a merry mood, she could plainly
tell, a