that he could awake them. When, however, he told them what he
had discovered, their hearts filled with joy, and they sprang to their
feet ready to follow him. Still they entertained a lurking fear that the
smoke might mark the bivouac of some savages who had watched their
movements during the day, and lighted this fire to cook the evening
meal.

They followed the stream about two miles up the ravine, picking their
way over rocks and through a thick wood, until they came to a little
gurgling brook, cutting its way through a deep dell running at right
angles with the ravine. Here they rested for a short time, and carefully
surveyed the scene, excited by strange thoughts. A light suddenly
flashed from the opposite bank, not more than forty yards ahead. This
evidently marked the object of their search. Then those familiar sounds
made by goats, fowls, and pigs were heard. Crossing the dell they
advanced cautiously in the direction of the light. They had not gone
far, however, when an opening in the woods was discovered, in the centre
of which a small, rude cabin, built of stones and mud, stood. A bright
fire was burning inside, smoke was issuing from the rude chimney, and
the light shining through two square openings in the sides, was
reflecting curiously over the scene outside.

Again the three men halted, and stood viewing the scene in silence, now
hoping, now fearing, now wondering what sort of beings inhabited this
strange place. Still the domestic animals kept up those noises, so
familiar to Tite's ear when at home. And these were broken at intervals
by what seemed the barking of a wolf. Now a strange and shadowy figure
passed and repassed in the cabin, its uncouth form reflecting every few
seconds in the light. Should they advance, enter the cabin, and see who
this strange being was, or return to the beach and wait until morning?
This was the question which occupied their thoughts now. Impelled as
well, perhaps, by anxiety as necessity, Tite resolved to push on to the
very door. Leaving the men with orders to follow him at a short
distance, he proceeded on cautiously until he reached the edge of the
opening in which the cabin stood.

He was now within a few paces of the door, when the fowls, which seemed
to abound in the vicinity, discovering him, sounded the alarm. The cabin
door now opened, and there stood, in the shadow of the light, the figure
of an old man bent with age, and dressed in the skin of a wolf, the lo