erdant, the shabby,
comfortable houses behind the trees, and the homely, happy-go-lucky
people who lived in the houses and sprayed their lawns on summer
evenings; friendly people, like people everywhere prone to laughter and
averse to thought. "People are so foolish and likeable, it's amazing!"
thought Stonor, visualizing his kind for the first.

The sights and sounds and smells of the old town came thronging back;
the school-bell with its flat clangour, exactly like no other bell on
earth--it rang until five minutes before the hour, stopping with a
muttering complaint, and you ran the rest of the way. There was the
Dominion Hotel, with a tar pavement in front that became semi-liquid on
hot days; no resident of that town ever forgot the pungent smell
compounded of tar, stale beer, sawdust, and cabbage that greeted you in
passing. And the candy-store was next door; the butterscotch they sold
there!

How he used to get up early on summer mornings and, with his faithful
mongrel Jack, with the ridiculous curly tail, walk and run a mile to the
railway-station to see the Transcontinental stop and pass on. How the
sun shone down the empty streets before any one was up! Strange how his
whole life seemed to be coloured by the newly-risen sun! And the long
train with the mysterious, luxurious sleeping-cars, an occasional
tousled head at the window; lucky head, bound on a long journey!

"Well, I've journeyed some myself since then," thought Stonor, "and I
have a longer journey before me!"

They spelled at ten o'clock, and again at three. "The last lap!" thought
Stonor, as they took to the river after the second stop. All depended on
the spot Imbrie should choose for their next camp. Stonor studied the
nature of the ground anxiously. The banks continued to rise steep and
high almost from the water's edge. These slopes for the most part were
wooded, but a wood on a steep stony slope does not offer good cover.

"Small chance of scrambling over the top in such a place without
stopping a bullet," thought Stonor. "If we come to a more favourable
spot should I suggest camping? No! for Imbrie would be sure to keep on
out of pure obstinacy. I might have a chance if I zig-zagged up the
hill. The worst part will be running away from Clare. Suppose she cries
out or tries to follow. If I could warn her!"

But Imbrie was taking very good care that no communications passed
between the two to-day.

They came to a place where a limestone r