"Aunt Sally fetched the pa'triges. Her old man got them for mothah, and she said you sure ought to have half. Sally said the sheriff had gone back up the mountain, and I'm afraid he'll come to our place again this evening. Likely they're breaking up Frale's 'still' now." "Well, that will be a good deed, won't it?" The huge bonnet had hid her face from him, but now she lifted her eyes frankly to his, with a flash of radiance through her tears. "I reckon," was all she said. "Are they likely to come up here, do you think, those men?" "Not hardly. They would have to search on foot here. It's out of their way; only no place on the mountain is safe for Frale now." "Send him to me quickly, then. I have cast my lot with you mountain people for some time to come, and your cause shall be mine." She paused at the door with grateful words on her lips unuttered. "Don't stop for thanks, Miss Cassandra; they are wasted between us. You have opened your doors to me, a stranger, and that is enough. Hurry, don't grieve--and see here: I may not be able to do anything, but I'll try; and if I can't get down to-night, won't you come again in the morning and tell me all about it?" Instantly he thought better of his request, yet who was here to criticise? He laughed as he thought how firmly the world and its conventions held him. Sweet, simple-hearted child that she was, why, indeed, should she not come? Still he called after her. "If you are too busy, send Hoyle. I may be down to see your mother, anyway." She paused an instant in her hurried walk. "I'll be right glad to come, if I can help you any way." He stood watching her until she passed below his view, as her long easy steps took her rapidly on, although she seemed to move slowly. Then he went back to his fire, and her words repeated themselves insistently in his mind--"I'll be right glad to come, if I can help you any way." Aunt Sally was seated in the chimney-corner smoking, when Cassandra returned. "Where is he?" she cried. "He couldn't set a minute, he was that restless. He 'lowed he'd go up to the rock whar you found him las' evenin'." Without a word, Cassandra turned and fled up the steep toward the head of the fall. Every moment, she knew, was precious. Frale met her halfway down and took her hand, leading her as he had been used to do when she was his "little sister," and listened to her plans docilely enough. "I mean you to go down to Farington, to Bishop Towahs'. He will give you work." She had not mentioned Thryng. Frale laughed. "Don't, Frale. How can you laugh?" "I ra'ly hain't laughin', Cass. Seems like you fo'get how can I get down the mountain; but I reckon I'll try--if you say so." Then she explained how the doctor had sent for him to come up there quickly, and how he would help him. "You must go now, Frale, you hear? Now!" Again he laughed, bitterly this time. "Yas--I reckon he'll be right glad to help me get away from you. I'll go myse'f in my own way."