ooner Moogs was placed under the care of an
experienced surgeon the better. Frank did not want to be responsible
for the consequences any more than seemed absolutely necessary.

In time the injured woodcutter recovered from his severe wound; and
the boys afterwards received a letter from Sandy, in which the boy
tried hard to express the heavy obligations under which he and his
"dad" felt themselves bound to the Outdoor Chums.

In the afternoon Gilbert came down to see them, and stayed over night.

As they sat around after supper and exchanged confidences the boys
learned of the tragedy that had taken place in the life of Aaron
Dennison. It fully explained the mystery hovering over his enclosed
estate.

He had had a single child, as the poor fragment of a baby shoe had
informed Frank; but the little fellow had been taken away from them.
The wife and mother had never been the same after that, though for
years she continued to be the faithful partner of the man, as he
fought his way up in the world.

In the end she entirely lost her reason, and Mr. Dennison, unwilling
that the one he loved so fondly should be placed in even the best
asylum, had conceived the idea of building this home far removed from
civilization.

Here the poor lady lived attended by a trusty nurse day and night.
There were bars across the windows of her sleeping chamber, because of
late she had developed a mania for wanting to leap from a height and
hence they had to take all precautions.

No doubt she imagined herself a prisoner, and seeing the boys below,
she had waved her handkerchief to them, and also had made gestures
with her hands as though invoking their aid.

Of course Frank assured Gilbert that when they came up to take supper
with his uncle not a word would be said on that painful subject. Even
if they heard that pitiful wailing cry they would pretend that it was
the screech of a strutting peacock, as once they had really believed.

After that the Outdoor Chums found each day bringing new pleasures.
They went up to see Mr. Dennison, not only once but many times, for
the old hermit soon found himself deeply interested in the boys. He
asked a thousand questions concerning the things connected with their
past, and seemed never to tire of listening while these little
adventurous happenings were being narrated.

The glorious days slipped away and finally the day arrived when they
must say good-bye to Cabin Point and all its happy assoc