he Lord it's no worse. We'll leave
the cabin to the women, after I see that they have no fright about it,
and we'll sleep in the fodder. There have been worse beds."

"I have coffee on the hearth, hot, and corn dodgers--such as we used
to make in the army. I've made them often before."

"Turn the beasts free; there isn't room for them all in the shed, and
I'll go get a bite and join you soon."

So Harry King did not return to the cabin that night, much as he
desired to see Amalia again, but lay down on the fodder and tried to
sleep. His heart throbbed gladly at the thought of her safety. He had
not dared to inquire after her father. Although he had seen so little
of the big man he understood his mood, and having received such great
kindness at his hands, he was truly sorry at the invasion of his
peace. Undoubtedly he did not like to have a family, gathered from the
Lord only knew where, suddenly quartered on him for none knew how
long.

The cabin was only meant for a hermit of a man, and little suited to
women and their needs. A mixed household required more rooms. He tried
to think the matter through and to plan, but the effort brought
drowsiness, and before the big man returned he was asleep.

CHAPTER XVI

A PECULIAR POSITION

"Well, young man, we find ourselves in what I call a peculiar
position."

A smile that would have been sardonic, were it not for a few lines
around the corners of his eyes which belied any sinister suspicion,
spread grimly across the big man's face as he stood looking down on
Harry King in the dusk of the unlighted shed. The younger man rose
quickly from the fodder where he had slept heavily after the fatigues
of the past day and night, and stood respectfully looking into the big
man's face.

"I--I--realize the situation. I thought about it after I turned in
here--before you came down--or up--to this--ahem--bedroom. I can take
myself off, sir. And if there were any way--of relieving you
of--the--whole--embarrassment,--I--I--would do so."

"Everything's quiet down at the cabin. I've been there and looked
about a bit. They had need of sleep. You go back to your bunk, and
I'll take mine, and we'll talk the thing over before we see them
again. As for your taking yourself off, that remains to be seen. I'm
not crabbed, that's not the secret of my life alone,--though you might
think it. I--ahem--ahem." The big man cleared his throat and stretched
his spare frame full length on the