ully.

"No, papa, but it is lonely here sometimes. Am I to live here always?"

"No, Frank. Some time I will send you to school. But you won't see me
every day then."

"Then I don't want to go."

The outlaw stooped over and kissed the boy.

"Now, Frank, I have something to do, so you may amuse yourself with
Ernest."

"Can you play dominoes?" asked Frank.

"Yes; have you a set?"

"Yes."

The boy opened a drawer in a bureau and drew out a box of dominoes. He
poured them out on the table and they began to play the ordinary game.
When they tired of that Ernest taught him a new one.

After they grew tired of playing Ernest read aloud to the boy from one of
his favorite books.

They were sitting together in the armchair when James Fox, who had left
the room, returned. He smiled approvingly at the picture. He was pleased
to think that he had found a companion whom his boy liked.

"What have you been doing, Frank?" he asked.

"He has been reading to me, papa. He reads nicely and I liked it very
much."

"I am sorry to interrupt you, but are not you young people hungry?"

"I think I could eat something," answered Ernest.

"Frank, you may bring him into the dining-room."

The drapery was lifted and they passed into a room as large as the one
they were in. On a table in the center a substantial meal, consisting
principally of roast beef, was set forth. An old colored woman hovered
near, evidently the cook.

"Juba," said the outlaw, "this is a new boarder. His name is Ernest."

"Glad to see you, Massa Ernest," rejoined the old woman, nodding her
turban. "Sit down here next to Massa Frank."

It seemed very strange to Ernest to reflect that he was the guest of one
of the famous outlaws of whom he had heard so much. He was half inclined
to doubt whether it was real. If he had been alone he would have pinched
himself to see whether he was awake or dreaming. Here he was in the bowels
of the earth on intimate terms with an outlaw and his family. How long was
he to stay in the cavern? That was a question impossible to answer.
Meanwhile he was hungry and the dinner was well cooked.

"Where is Uncle John, papa?" asked Frank suddenly.

Ernest remembered that one of the Fox brothers was named John, and he
awaited the answer with interest.

James Fox seemed busily thinking and Frank had to repeat the question.

"Your Uncle John?" repeated the outlaw. "He went away on business."

"What kind of business, papa?"

I