"Uncle Wesley," said Elnora, "I had more money than I brought home last
night, and I put it in my case. Some one has been there. The ground is
all trampled, and they left this note."

"And took your money, I'll wager," said Sinton angrily.

"No," answered Elnora. "Read the note, and oh Uncle Wesley, tell me what
it means!"

Sinton's face was a study. "I don't know what it means," he said. "Only
one thing is clear. It means some beast who doesn't really want to harm
you has got his eye on you, and he is telling you plain as he can, not
to give him a chance. You got to keep along the roads, in the open, and
not let the biggest moth that ever flew toll you out of hearing of us,
or your mother. It means that, plain and distinct."

"Just when I can sell them! Just when everything is so lovely on account
of them! I can't! I can't stay away from the swamp. The Limberlost is
going to buy the books, the clothes, pay the tuition, and even start a
college fund. I just can't!"

"You've got to," said Sinton. "This is plain enough. You go far in the
swamp at your own risk, even in daytime."

"Uncle Wesley," said the girl, "last night before I went to bed, I was
so happy I tried to pray, and I thanked God for hiding me 'under the
shadow of His wing.' But how in the world could any one know it?"

Wesley Sinton's heart leaped in his breast. His face was whiter than the