in that lonely wilderness. Like too many whose

hearts are young and gay, Dick had regarded religion, if

not as a gloomy, at least as not a cheerful thing. But

he felt the comfort of these words at that moment, and

he resolved seriously to peruse his mother's parting gift

in time to come.

The sun was hot, and a warm breeze gently shook

the leaves, so that Dick's garments were soon dry. A

few minutes served to change the locks of his rifle, draw

the wet charges, dry out the barrels, and re-load. Then