eward,
and Frank and Jan riding southward with heavy hearts.

They had not gone more than half a mile when they came to a little
log-house in the woods, and as the sun had risen, and they and their
horses were worn out with their night's work, they decided to stop and
ask to be allowed to rest a while, and for something to eat for
themselves and their animals.

The owner of the house was a genuine "cracker," or poor white--lean,
sallow, and awkward in his movements, but hospitable, as men of his
class always are. In answer to their request he replied,

"Sartin, sartin; to be sho'. Light down, gentleMEN, and come inside. We
'uns is plain folks, and hain't got much, but sich as we has yo' 'uns
is welkim to. Sal, run fo' a bucket of water."

As Frank and Jan entered the house, a little-barefooted, tow-headed
girl started off with a bucket. They were hardly seated, and their host
had just begun to tell them about his wonderful "nateral well," when a
loud scream was heard outside. The next instant the little girl came
flying into the house, with a terror-stricken face, and flung herself
into her father's arms.

"Why! what is it, gal? So, honey, so! Tell yer daddy what's a-skeering
of ye"; and the man tried to soothe the child, and learn the cause of
her sudden fright.

At length she managed to sob out, "It's the devvil, pa; the devvil's in
our well, an' he hollered at me, an' I drapped the bucket an' run."

At these words Frank sprang to his feet, exclaiming, "What! a voice in
the well? And you said it was a natural well, mister? Oh, Jan, can it
be?" And then turning fiercely to the man, "Show us to the well, man,
quick! What do you sit there staring for?"

Without waiting for a reply he rushed from the door, and running along
a little pathway leading from it, was in another minute lying flat on
the ground, looking down a hole of about six feet in diameter, and
shouting, "Halloo! down there."

Yes, there was an answer, and it was, "Help! he-l-p!"

The two men had followed Frank from the house, and Jan had been
thoughtful enough to bring with him the Manila rope that had hung at
the pommel of Frank's saddle.

There was no need for words now. Frank hastily knotted the rope under
his arms, handed it to Jan, and saying, "Haul up gently when I call,"
slipped over the curb and disappeared.

One, two, three minutes passed after the rope slackened in their hands,
showing that Frank had reached the bottom, and then tho