Part 4 (1/2)

Twilight caht slowly settled over the landscape, while the lad lay stretched out on the sweet-s up into the starlit sky

Slowly his heavy eyelids fluttered and closed, and Phil was asleep The night ar, healthy boy, so that sleeping out of doors was no hardshi+p to hiht he slept as soundly as if he had been in his own bed at ho finally burned his eyelids apart

Phil started up rubbing his eyes

At first he wondered where he was But the sight of his bag lying a little to one side brought back with a rush thebefore

”Why, it's ht ”And I've slept on this pile of hay all night It's the first time I ever slept out of doors, and I never slept better in my life Guess I'll fix myself up a little”

Phil remembered that a little trout strea, he started for the strea up by lying flat on his sto water

”Ah, that feels better,” he breathed, rolling over on the bank

After a little he helped hi I can't stay out here in this field all the rest ofto eat I'll starve to death I'll go don and see if I can't earnfors and started away toward the village His course led hiht past Abner Adaht

Phil would have felt a keen humiliation had he been forced to meet the taunts of his uncle He hurried on past the house without glancing toward it

He had gone on for some little hen he was halted by a fa in such a hurry and so early in the uiltily and looked up quickly at the speaker

”Good , Mrs Cahill What ti”

”Gracious! I had no idea it was so early as that,” exclaireat hurry, stop a bit,” urged the woive voice to She had known Phil Forrest for many years, and his parents before hi of the life he had led since the death of his parents ”Had your breakfast?”

”Well--”

”Of course you haven't Coood-hearted

”If you will let reed Phil hesitatingly

”Nothing of the kind! You'll keepaway,” pointing significantly to the bag that Phil was carrying

He was ravenously hungry, though he did not realize it fully until the odor of the 's savory cooking smote his nostrils

She watched him eat with keen satisfaction