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"Then go--the two of you!" Reed cried, angrily, "I'oin' to stay--I ain't nothin' to co that ithout ye"

Surly, and without speaking, the boys took their departure

"They got bad dispositions--they take after theirafter them "With you to work the windlass and empty the bucket we'll make out without the to accept my loss and quit," Wallie pleaded

"Well, I ain't!" declared Rufus, unnecessarily bellicose "A contract is a contract and I got you in writin'"

Wallie could not deny it and subsided e while Rufus s I like it's a good lad to have found so to stimulate your appetite--it's worried me," replied Wallie But his sarcas, when Wallie indicated that he was ready

Turning the windlass according to instructions, Wallie deposited Rufus in the bottom Then at intervals he hoisted the bucket which Rufus filled in leisurely fashion, and e the two men's work easily

Wallie went down occasionally to stoke the fire, and upon his return reported so favourably upon the ha his watch rather frequently after ten-thirty

"I'll quit at 'leven," he inforive you plenty of tireed with him that it was an excellent idea and promptly at eleven pulled up the bucket of dirt which was to be the last one

When it did not come down immediately, Rufus called to him: "Hi! I'm ready! Get a move on, for I'

"What's the matter with you?" he demanded, ihtly alarmed he called louder: "Macpherson! What's happened to ye?"

Still no answer

Distinctly nervous, Rufus shouted at the top of his lungs for Wallie and the bucket, breaking into a perspiration at the continued silence

Was he sick? Fainted? Dead? Many things that could occur came to Reed as he halloed futilely

When one o'clock ca and sick with fear at his predicaruesome pictures as he sweated He saw hi slowly of starvation, collapsing, finally to lie undiscovered for days, weeks maybe The memory of a field mouse that had fallen into a pit haunted hiles to scale the steep sides, and he reain he had looked and found it dead in the bottom He wished now that he had rescued it