perly
his.

"You may write to me about once a week if you have anything to say,
Robert," said the hermit.

"How shall I direct you, sir? Shall I use your name?"

"How am I known in the village?"

"They call you 'the hermit of the cliff.'"

"Then direct your letters to 'The Hermit of the Cliff.' They are not
likely to go astray."

Mr. Huet gave Robert his instructions and finally produced a roll of
banknotes.

"You will find two hundred dollars in this roll, Robert," he said. "You
can buy a wallet to keep it in when you reach Boston."

"Two hundred dollars!" exclaimed the boy in amazement.

"You won't find it so large a sum as you suppose when you are required
to pay traveling expenses. You need not try to be over-economical. I
prefer that you should stop at good hotels and put on a good appearance.
But I warn you to keep your mouth shut and tell your business to no one.
I depend upon your discretion not to fall into the hands of knaves or
adventurers. I know that I am putting unusual confidence in a boy of
your limited experience, but I have no one else to trust, and I feel
that you may be relied upon."

"I hope I shall not disappoint you, Mr. Huet."

"Well, Robert, I will bid you good night and God bless you! We don't
know what lies before us, but if you succeed, I will take care that your
career shall be a fortunate one."

Robert walked slowly back to his humble home, almost wishing that the
night were over and his journey actually begun.

There was but one way out of Cook's Harbor--that is, by land. A stage
left the village every morning for Kaneville, six miles distant, a small
station on a road which terminated many miles away in Boston.

The stage started at seven o'clock, so Robert was forced to get up
betimes, take an early breakfast and walk up to the tavern.

Mr. Jones, the landlord, was standing on the piazza when Robert made his
appearance.

He had no proprietary right in the stage line, but the driver generally
stopped overnight at the tavern and the horses were kept in his stable,
so that he had come to assume a certain air of proprietorship.

As Robert was climbing up to take a seat by the driver Mr. Jones, with a
frown, called out:

"Look here, you young rascal, come right down!"

"Why am I to come down, Mr. Jones?" said Robert independently.

"Because I tell you to. We can't have any boys stealing rides."

"Is this stage yours?" asked Robert, surveying the landlord with
provo