was almost the last of the gang which for years had proven such a
menace to the country, and interfered with the King's mast-cutters.
That this was a final desperate effort on their part he was sure. He
was very glad to be on hand to confound them in their undertaking.

Leaving the slashers to their own devices, he doubled back upon the
trail for a short distance, plunged off into the deep snow, encircled
the camp, and at length came upon the trail farther ahead. He
travelled slower now, as there was no special hurry. He believed that
the slashers would remain in the valley for some time, and perhaps wait
for dawn before continuing their march.

After awhile he came to the valley where stood the cabin from which he
had fled several years before. He knew every foot of the place, for
here he had often come with his mother. This was her favorite walk,
and he recalled how fond she was of watching him as he played among the
trees and by the little brook. He understood now something of what it
must have meant to such a woman to live for years in the wilderness,
cut off from all social life of which she had been so fond, and meeting
no one of her own sex except the few Indian women who occasionally
visited the house.

A strong feeling of resentment rose up in Dane's heart against his
father who had submitted so noble a woman to such a living death. It
had not been his intention to go near the house from which he had been
driven. But now a great longing came upon him to descend the valley
and view the building at close quarters. Was his father sitting alone
there? he wondered, and did he ever think with any degree of fondness
of his outcast son?