their progress. He suggested little changes in the course
they were taking, and presently broke out with:

"Thar, if so be yuh jest look yondah, suh, p'raps ye kin see a boat
tied up tuh a stake. Thet's whar old Van Arsdale lives now, a fishin'
shack on a patch o' ground he happens tuh own. But I done heard as how
them slick gals o' his'n gone an' made even sech a tough place look
kinder homelike. An' see, thar's the ole man right now, alookin'
toward us, wonderin' who we be."

Jack could easily see all that the other described. It was a lonely
place for a man to bring his three sweet daughters; but doubtless
necessity compelled such a thing.

The man with the white mustache and goatee, who looked like a real
Kentucky colonel, Jack thought, walked down to the rude little dock to
meet them. Of course, he recognized the marshal, who must have been an
old acquaintance of his; and had little difficulty in guessing the
errand that was probably bringing him there.

Then three young girls came running down to gather about the old man,
as if suspecting the coming of new trouble they wished to be near to
help him bear his cross.

Jack found himself quivering with eagerness. And again did he hope
that the message from the absent son and brother might soften the blow
that seemed about to fall upon this devoted little family.

They reached the landing and hastened to get ashore; all but Pete, who
had developed a second-stage appetite, and started in eating again,
regardless of all other matters.

The old planter stood there like a lion at bay, with his three
daughters clinging to him. It was a pretty picture, that would often
come up in the memory of the boys when far away from the scene itself.

He seemed to be paying particular attention to the marshal, who stepped
forward and gravely shook hands with him.

"I had your letter, Mr. Burrows, and looked to see you some time
today," was the way Mr. Spence opened the conversation.

"And as I wrote you, Spence," the marshal replied, "I'm only here in my
official capacity to carry out the execution of the law's demands. As
your friend, suh, I deeply sympathize with you in your troubles, but
being sworn to do my duty, however painful it may be, there was no
choice left to me."

"I understand all that, Burrows. This is only a mere matter of
routine, anyway. The blow fell months ago, when I had to leave my old
home. I thought I might save it in some way by keeping