, standing upon a rude bench nailed between the trunks, gave
to them his message of simple words in the voice and tone of friend and
neighbor.

Since early morning he had preached two sermons, christened a half dozen
infants, baptized three confessors, visited a bed-ridden man and a
feeble, old, blind woman, and given burial service to one of his
congregation. Far in the night, when the day's work was done and he
slept, his were dreams of peace. Two angels with forward pendant wings
formed a mercy seat above his bed and on it sat One a thousand times
brighter than the sun, who in a voice that might be heard through space,
though softer than the music of riffled waters, spoke to him.

"Well done, good and faithful servant, continue in the labor of the
Lord."

"But, Lord, I am lonely and weak and homeless and would rest."

"Weary not in well-doing. My grace is sufficient for thee; My strength
is made perfect in weakness--you have a home not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens."

* * * * *

On Tuesday the surveying party began work on the Helton property. This
was so distant from Saylor's that they thought of moving headquarters to
Asher Brock's at the head of the creek valley; but as a couple of days
would complete the work they concluded to remain where they were, riding
forth in the morning and back in the evening.

Mary fixed a lunch, which was placed in a grain sack and tied behind
Cornwall's saddle. Near noon they stopped to rest and eat under some
elms in the upper creek valley, when Cornwall discovered that the lunch
was gone, the sack having been pulled off while he was riding through
the dense underbrush.

Their appetites were whetted by the smell of frying ham, wind-wafted
down the creek from Asher Brock's. They rode to the house and asked to
share the meal. The maintainer is like the Arab; he never refuses to
entertain a guest.

The old man sat at the end of the table, with Duffield on his right and
his daughter, a girl about seventeen, and barefooted, next beyond. The
family circle was large and, with the four guests, the table was
crowded.

In the midst of the meal they were startled by the girl who, crying
"Ouch!" jumped up from the table.

Her father, looking at Duffield with murder in his eye, said: "What's
the matter, Cinthy?"

"The cat scratched my foot."

The old man looked under the table for confirmation; and there sat the
old, black cat, looking as