"I'm not thirsty, but I'll go with you," she said. The fence rails were wide enough apart for her to get through, while Dick took the customary way and climbed over. The spring was down in a gully near the fence which marked the end of Dick's land in that direction, and taking a silver-plated collapsible cup out of his pocket the boy filled it and offered it to Madge. She took a drink and then he helped himself. The young trees, now well advanced, which we mentioned before as growing at this end of Dick's property were gradually forming a small wood that would occupy about one acre of the five. On their way back they walked through these trees, as Dick was somewhat interested in their growth. They were cedar trees and would ultimately make good railroad ties. "I wish the whole property was wooded like this," he said. "I would in such a case make a good thing out of the trees." "As lumber?" said Madge. "As railroad ties. Those articles are always in demand. Hello!" he exclaimed, stopping, "here's one of the old guard still standing." He pointed at a hoary-looking old tree that had been dead for years. It showed evidence of having been struck by lightning a long time since. This had killed it, and now it stood like the mummified corpse of some old grizzled veteran of many wars, its two withered arms pointing heavenward at an acute angle that formed the whole trunk into the shape of the letter Y. Dick approached it and struck the tree with the palm of his hand. It gave forth a hollow sound and shook under the blow. "That old monarch won't last much longer," he said. "It feels as if a strong wind would blow it over. It seems to be nothing but a shell, and yet it looks as solid as a rock outside. It's funny how some trees decay from the inside. I'm going to climb up and see if there's an opening between those limbs." He started to do so, with the assistance of the knobby projections, when he was surprised to hear a noise inside the tree that made him suspect some kind of an animal had taken refuge there. He kept on till his head rose above the fork and he saw a great hole extending downward. He was about to ask Madge to hand him a long stick he saw lying on the ground, when, to his astonishment, a rough voice floated upward. "Is that you, Parker?" were the words that reached his ears. "Hello! Who are you?" cried Dick. A muttered imprecation followed, and then silence. "Who are you?" again asked Dick. There was no reply. Dick climbed higher after telling the surprised girl that there was a man inside of the tree, pulled out his match safe and flashed a light into the tree. He saw a slouched hat, which evidently covered a head, and a pair of broad shoulders. "Come on now, I see you. What are you doing in there?" said Dick. "None of your business," replied a voice from under the hat.