A light was indeed visible in one of the valleys, and after ten minutes’ walk he came to a rude house, or cabin, around which could be seen a few acres of cultivated ground. It was the house of one of the few settlers who had located in that wild, out-of-the-way region. Entering without knocking, half a dozen persons sprang to their feet to greet him. This family consisted of Jabez Bede, brother to Jarius, his wife, three strapping sons, and a buxom daughter of eighteen. “Why, it’s only ’Rius!” exclaimed Dame Bede, with a look of relief, as if she had feared some danger. “But where have you been all night, Jarius?” cried Jabez. “We were gettin’ a-worrited ’bout yer.” “Jabez, I hev made a diskivery!” “What?” chorused the listeners in a breath. “I told yer I shouldn’t kem back till I had l’arnt sumthin’, and I an’t, that, sure.” “It is about Ralph, I know it is!” exclaimed Mary Bede, springing to his side with a glad look on her fair countenance. “What have you learned, uncle? Tell me, quick.” “I can prove that he didn’t steal the boat,” was the triumphant reply. “I knew that he didn’t. But tell us what you have learned.” “Waal, waal, it’s cur’us, but it’s true. You know that the three boats were left down on the shore as usual. Waal, I hev been watchin’ them ever since an hour afore sundrop.” “Why, Jarius Bede, and we here a-waitin’ and a-worritin’ ’bout yer.” “Waal, it’s worth the time, I can tell yer.” While Jarius Bede is telling what he has witnessed we would say that considerable excitement had been occasioned among the few settlers in that vicinity by the frequent disappearance of boats from the shores of the lake. No one could tell where they had gone, but they were as effectually lost as if the water had swallowed them up. Finally, Mary Bede’s lover, Ralph Horn, was accused of stealing, or destroying them, which amounted to the same thing, so long as they were irretrievably lost. We can understand now something of the eagerness with which she listened to Jarius’ story. When he had finished all were agape with wonder. “Waal, I never!” exclaimed Jabez. “Who’d a-thought it?” “And they will believe Ralph now?” asked Mary anxiously. “They can’t help it, only we have got to prove it to them.” “Yes, yes,” said her father. “How’ll we do that, ’Rius? It’s an orful story to believe.” “Let them see fer theirselves. Guess if they hed been with me they’d a-thought somethin’ ’sides Ralph Horn was ’round movin’ that boat. But I must catch a wink of sleep now. In the mornin’ we’ll all go down and clear up the mystery.” A few minutes later the light was extinguished, and the Bede family were in slumberland, though there may be a doubt in regard to one member. But we won’t call any names. They were all astir early the next morning, and immediately after breakfast Jarius spread the news of his discovery. It required no urging to get half a dozen to accompany him to the lake, besides the three Bede boys.