grumbling at their luck. In the valley at the mountain 



foot they came at midnight upon water, black and 



still, between them and the cabin's lights beyond ; 



and there the man lay down. Then the Boy, turning 



^ in his anger, bade him come on ; and, dragging him 



^^ out upon the further bank, had found unknowing 



some little of the fortune he had come to seek. 



Still, morning brought no change ; still, was there 

 no work to do. So the man gave up, and sagging 

 back, was lost. And the Boy went on alone. 



Rough and straight-spoken, but kindly men and true, 

 were those he came among. What they could they 

 did : what they had they gave. They made him 

 free of board and bed ; and, kinder still, now and then 

 made work for him to do, knowing his spirit was as 

 theirs and that his heart cried out : " Not charity, 

 but work ! Give me work ! " But that they could not 

 do, for there was no work they could not do themselves. 



Thus the days and weeks went by. Willing, but 

 unused to fend for himself unfit by training for the 

 wild rough life, heart and energy all to waste, the little 

 he did know of no value there the struggle with the 

 ebbing tide went on ; it was the wearing hopeless fight 

 against that which one cannot grapple, and cannot 

 even see. There was no work to be done. A few days 

 here and there ; a little passing job ; a helping hand 

 disguised ; and then the quest again. They were all 

 friendly but, with the kindly habit of the place : it 

 told the tale of hopelessness too well. They did not 

 even ask his name ; it made no difference. 



6 



