y road, widening as it went, sloped downward to a
clear-running branch. On the right a bay-tree bending over the stream
mingled the heavy odor of its flowers with the delicate perfume of a
yellow jessamine vine that had overrun a clump of saplings on the left.
From a neighboring tree a silver-throated mocking-bird poured out a
flood of riotous melody. A group of minnows; startled by the splashing
of the mule's feet, darted away into the shadow of the thicket, their
quick passage leaving the amber water filled with laughing light.

The mule drank long and lazily, while over Frank stole thoughts in
harmony with the peaceful scene,--thoughts of Rena, young and
beautiful, her friendly smile, her pensive dark eyes. He would soon
see her now, and if she had any cause for fear or unhappiness, he would
place himself at her service--for a day, a week, a month, a year, a
lifetime, if need be.

His reverie was broken by a slight noise from the thicket at his left.
"I wonder who dat is?" he muttered. "It soun's mighty quare, ter say
de leas'."

He listened intently for a moment, but heard nothing further. "It must
'a' be'n a rabbit er somethin' scamp'in' th'ough de woods. G'long
dere, Caesar!"

As the mule stepped forward, the sound was repeated. This time it was
distinctly audible, the long, low moan of some one in sickness or
distress.

"Dat ain't no rabbit," said Frank to himself. "Dere's somethin' wrong
dere. Stan' here, Caesar, till I look inter dis matter."

Pulling out from the branch, Frank sprang from the saddle and pushed
his way cautiously through the outer edge of the thicket.

"Good Lawd!" he exclaimed with a start, "it's a woman--a w'ite woman!"

The slender form of a young woman lay stretched upon the ground in a
small open space a few yards in extent. Her face was turned away, and
Frank could see at first only a tangled mass of dark brown hair, matted
with twigs and leaves and cockleburs, and hanging in wild profusion
around her neck.

Frank stood for a moment irresolute, debating the serious question
whether he should investigate further with a view to rendering
assistance, or whether he should put as great a distance as possible
between himself and this victim, as she might easily be, of some
violent crime, lest he should himself be suspected of it--a not
unlikely contingency, if he were found in the neighborhood and the
woman should prove unable to describe her assailant. While he
hesitated,