reen yet. He has a soft part in his
heart, and I have found it."

Farmer Grey had a good deal of talk with Mary before he went home. He
liked all she said, and all he saw her do. "That is a good young woman,
I am sure," he said to himself. She, too, was very grateful to him for
having saved her father's life by his courage and presence of mind.
Then, too, he was the uncle of James Grey, and she was glad that he
seemed pleased with her.

STORY ONE, CHAPTER 4.

It would have seemed that James Grey and Mary Page had now every chance
of being made happy. So they might, if James had not got into evil
ways. He had not spoken of Mary to his uncle, and he did not know that
Farmer Grey had seen her, and was much pleased with her. By this his
folly was shown. Had he been frank with his uncle, and told him all the
truth, how much better it would have been for him!

A few days after the accident at the mill, James came, as usual, to see
Mary. He had a long talk with her, and said that he was so glad his
uncle now knew her, and that he was sure the farmer would let him marry
her. Still he did not say that he had told his uncle he wished to do
so. When he at last got up to go away, Ben followed him.

"James," said Ben, "I have some work for tonight. You must come. You
will never have seen such sport in your life. There are six other chaps
will join us, all true as steel."

"No, no, Ben; I must go home," said James. "My uncle does not like me
to be out late at night, and he has heard of one or two of the things I
have done with you."

"That is good," said Ben, with a sneer. "Why, I would not let my father
order me about as he likes; much less an uncle, I should think. Dear
me, `my uncle won't let me do this,' `my uncle won't let me do that'; a
nice state of things. Come, James, be a man, and come along with me."

James never could stand Ben's sneers; so the next time Ben said, "Come
along," he answered, "Very well; but only for this time."

"Oh, of course, I know," said Ben. "I don't want you to get into any
scrape, of course, lad. Come back into my room. Those clothes won't
suit you: you must put on some of mine. We can slip out again, and my
sister won't see you."

In a short time, Ben and James stole out with their guns and shot-belts
and powder-flasks.

"It is not near home," whispered Ben.

"That's a good thing," answered James; but they spoke very little.

They had walked two miles when