companion into a grass-field, and, selecting a spot
where the grass was long and tangled, and mixed with various kinds of
weeds, we used to lie flat down with our faces as near to the ground as
possible, and gaze through the grass-stems until we fancied the blades
were trees, and the pebbles were large rocks, and the clods were
mountains. Sometimes a huge beetle would crawl past, and we instantly
thought of Saint George and the dragon, and, as the unwieldy monster
came stumbling on through the forest, we actually became quite excited,
and could scarcely believe that what we tried to imagine was not real.

"We seldom spoke on these occasions, my companion and I," continued Ned,
suspending the stirring of the decoction and filling his pipe, as he sat
down close to the blazing logs; "speaking, we found, always broke the
spell, so we agreed to keep perfect silence for as long a time as
possible. You must try it, Tom, some day, for although it may seem to
you a childish thing to do, there are many childish things which, when
done in a philosophical spirit, are deeply interesting and profitable to
men."

Ned ceased talking for a few minutes while he ignited his pipe; when he
spoke again his thoughts had wandered into a new channel.

"I'm sorry we have no fresh meat to-day," he said, looking earnestly at
his friend. "The remainder of that hare is not very savoury, but we
must be content; I walked all the country round to-day, without getting
within range of any living thing. There were plenty both of deer and
birds, but they were so wild I could not get near them. It would matter
little if you were well, Tom, but you require good food just now, my
poor fellow. Do you feel better to-night?"

Tom groaned, and said that he "felt easier," in a very uneasy voice,
after which they both relapsed into silence, and no sound was heard save
the crackling of the logs and the bubbling of the mysterious decoction
in the pot. Suddenly Tom uttered a slight hiss,--that peculiar sound so
familiar to backwoods ears, by which hunters indicate to each other that
something unusual has been observed, and that they had better be on the
alert.

Ned Sinton's nerves were of that firm kind which can never be startled
or taken by surprise. He did not spring to his feet, but, quick as
thought, he stretched forth his long arm, and, seizing his rifle, cocked
it, while he glanced at his friend's eye to see in what direction he was
looking. Tom p