and the shifting bands ceased to move about. 
Then quiet settled down on the drowsy, sleepy 
hosts, and the stars came out winking one by 
one, and the last katydids of autumn began 
singing in the fields. | 
As Longtoe sat there on his perch, perhaps 
wondering a little at all these new and unusual 
surroundings, a strange sound came through 
the still night air. Far off the “clank, clank”’ 
of chains striking with repeated regularity on 
wood could faintly be heard. For a time it 
stopped, and then all at once it started up 
again, this time much nearer and more distinct. 
Now the sounds were accompanied by other 
noises, among which could be heard the 
“thump, thump” of the feet of a _ trotting 
horse. A wagon was coming noisily along the 
road, the trace chains rattling against the 
shafts making the sounds which could be heard 
the farthest. 
Close to the cedar glade the wagon turned off 
from the road and stopped. Four or five men 
climbed out. They built a fire of dead pine limbs 
and stood around it talking and laughing, until 
64 
