ell.

"Nursing his injuries at some wood-cutter's camp, no doubt; but God be
praised for that double spirit of generosity and forgiveness which
prompted our Poleon to spare the wretch. No finer thing have I known in
all my life, Doret, even though you have ever been an ungodly fellow."

The Frenchman moved uneasily.

"Wal, I don' know; he ain' fight so dam' hard."

"You couldn't find no trace of him?" said Lee.

"No trace whatever," Father Barnum replied; "but he will surely reach
some place of refuge where we can pick him up, for the days are still
mild and the woods full of berries, and, as you know, the streams
overflow with salmon, which he can kill with a stick. Why, a man might
live a fortnight without inconvenience!"

"I'll be on the lookout for him," said the Lieutenant, grimly.
"To-night I'll send Thomas and a couple of men down the river."

When the voluble old priest had at last exhausted his narrative he
requested of Burrell the privilege of a few words, and drew him apart
from the others. His face was shrewdly wrinkled and warm with
understanding.

"I had a long conversation with my little girl, for she is like a
daughter to me, and I discovered the depth of her love for you. Do you
think you are worthy of her?"

"No."

"Do you love her as much as you should?"

"As much as I can. They don't make words or numbers big enough to tell
you how dear she is to me."

"Then why delay? To-morrow I leave again, and one never knows what a
day may bring forth."

"But Stark?" the young man cried. "He's her father, you know; he's like
a madman, and she's still under age."

"I know very little of law outside of the Church," the Father observed,
"but, as I understand it, if she marries before he forbids her, the law
will hold him powerless. Now, he has never made himself known to her,
he has never forbidden her anything; and although my conclusion may not
be correct, I believe it is, and you have a chance if you make haste.
At your age, my boy, I never needed a spur."

"A spur? Good Lord! I'm from Kentucky."

"Once she is yours before God, your hold will be stronger in the eyes
of men. If I am wrong, and he takes her from you--well, may some other
priest re-wed you two--I sha'n't!"

"Don't worry," laughed Burrell, ablaze at the thought. "You're the only
preacher who'll kiss my bride, for I'm a jealous man, and all the
Starks and all the fathers in the world won't get her away from me. Do
you think she