"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?" It was a natural question, but it startled James Fox. He saw that as his son became older it might not be easy to evade embarrassing questions. "You seem curious, Frank," he answered after a pause. "You wouldn't understand if I were to tell you." "Will you teach me your business some day, papa?" It was on the tip of the outlaw's tongue to say, "Heaven forbid!" but he only answered: "Wait till you are older, Frank. Then we will talk about it." At length they rose from the table. They went back to the main room and Ernest read a little more to the young boy. But Frank's eyes grew heavy and he finally dropped off to sleep. "Shall I lay him on the bed, Mr. Fox?" asked Ernest. "No, I will do so." He took the boy tenderly in his arms. "If I had known he would fall asleep I would have undressed him," he said. After placing the boy on the bed he resumed his seat in the armchair and began to smoke. Finally he looked over at Ernest. "Do you like my little boy?" he asked abruptly. "He is a dear little fellow," answered Ernest. "So he is," said the father in a soft voice. "You have no prejudice against him because he is my son?" "No," answered Ernest. "Whatever you are he is not responsible." "True, but all might not take that view of it. I don't know why I should speak so confidentially to you, lad, but if I ever regret my line of life it is when I look at him. I wouldn't like to have his future marred by his association with me. I wouldn't like people to turn from him because he was an outlaw's son." "I hope you will forgive my boldness," said Ernest, "but don't you think you will ever change your mode of life?"