WITH BEAK AND CLAW 7 



tive. He slouched down on the fallen leaves, close 

 beside his uncle, plucked the outermost young 

 tendrils of a wild grape-vine near by and began to 

 chew them. For several minutes neither made any 

 remark, and then Shan said, casually, without any 

 suggestion in his tone that he had been hurrying 

 hot-foot through the forest to carry the news, 

 ** Stranger up at the cabin this morning." 

 "So?" drawled Bull, a slight note of interroga- 

 tion in his voice. 

 *'He told me to tell you he wanted to see you." 

 The old woodsman glanced questioningly at the 

 lad, and Shan continued, 



''Ned Thompson, he said his name was." 

 Bull's lips tightened a trifle, but, otherwise, the 

 news seemed to have no more impression on him 

 than on the fallen tree upon which he was sitting. 

 The noises of the forest, arrested for the mo- 

 ment by the sound of human voices, recommenced. 

 A Yellow Warbler, astray from the cut-over 

 woodland near by, undisturbed by the almost mo- 

 tionless figures of man and boy, fluttered to a bush 

 at hand and poured out rapidly his characteristic 

 song of six sharp notes with a downward slur. 



Bull Adam, interested only in game birds, paid 

 no heed, but Shan's eyes noted the bright little 



