sometimes halting to let a fever run its course, they pushed northward. The farther they went, the more barren became the wilderness. The feudal mansions of the wealthy coffee-planters gave

k it up, and once by riding ahead on a misty morning. Each time he stole back with hanging and drooping shoulders. The l

o longer ride. Natalie, grown pale and thin, but strong withal, took his place o

Safe within the circle of her arms lay her boy. There no evil could reach him, no gnawing temptation ravage his child's will. Her watch

s wonderfully symmetrical, rising to a single peak. All day long they traveled toward it. All day long Shento

ed, "I should like t

. She held Shenton's curly head against her face so tha

will reach

eerskin. On his feet were sandals. Across one shoulder he carried a stick from which

ting. "Whence do you come and whither do you go? Tell hi

d vaguely at each other. They h

m the South. We journey to yond

lled the

ied Shenton. "That

lderness, but it shows no man the way. So equal are its sides, that it points neither east

tree? It is like the steeple on a church." Then he tur

grip upon Shenton. He was too weak to stand the jolting of the wagon.

he mountain, upon his white, blue-veined body, so pitifully frail, and marveled th

calling roughly to Lewis to bring an ax

unseeing eyes. Natalie, crying, clutched her skirt. At her feet sat

is panting behind him. They reached

ds. He tore branches from the tree and spread them within. Upon the fresh, green couch he

ng soul hast thou been kind." Then w

he rock to the lonely tree. Grasping the ax, he climbed the tree. High above the mountain-top he cut its stem. Then limb after limb fell crashing to the

Courier, looked back. His keen eyes fell

brow with the holy cross? Behold! one arm points to the rising sun and one to it

ley that looked toward the distant mountain. Leighton purchased the valley from

lls and a roof of homemade tiles. When it was finished, he looked upon its ugliness and