a time all was silent around Hanging Rock. Thryng sat reading and
pondering, expecting each moment to hear voices from the direction Frale
had taken. He could not help smiling as he thought over his attempt to
make this mountain boy into the typical English tourist, and how unique
an imitation was the result.

He called out to comfort Hoyle's fearful little heart: "Your brother's
all safe now. Come out here until we hear men's voices."

"I better stay whar I be, I reckon. They won't talk none when they get
nigh hyar."

"Are you comfortable down there?"

"Yas, suh."

Hoyle was right. The two men detailed for this climb walked in silence,
to give no warning of their approach, until they appeared in the rear of
the cabin, and entered the shed where Frale's horse was stabled. Sure
were they then that its owner was trapped at last.

They were greatly surprised at finding the premises occupied. David
continued his reading, unconcerned until addressed.

"Good evenin', suh."

He greeted them genially and invited them into his cabin, determined to
treat them with as royal hospitality as was in his power. To offer them
tea was hardly the thing, he reasoned, so he stirred up the fire, while
descanting on the beauty of the location and the health-giving quality
of the air, and when his kettle was boiling, he brought out from his
limited stores whiskey, lemons, and sugar, and proceeded to brew them so
fine a quality of English toddy as to warm the cockles of their hearts.

Questioning them on his own account, he learned how best to get his
supplies brought up the mountains, and many things about the region
interesting to him. At last one of them ventured a remark about the
horse and how he came by him, at which he explained very frankly that
the widow down below had allowed him the use of the animal for his keep
until her son returned.

They "'lowed he wa'n't comin' back to these parts very soon," and David
expressed satisfaction. His evident ignorance of mountain affairs
convinced them that nothing was to be gained from him, and they asked no
direct questions, and finally took their departure, with a high opinion
of their host, and quite content.

Then David called his little accomplice from his hiding-place, took him
into his cabin, and taught him to drink tea with milk and sugar in it,
gave him crisp biscuits from his small remainder in store, and, still
further to comfort his heart, searched out a card on which was