5.\ 



WITH CARL OF THE HILL 45 



weight of timber had ever come out alive. He held 

 his hand in front of his eyes with a convulsive clutch. 

 Mastering himself, he went on slowly. He knew the 

 exact turn, in the path from which he could get the 

 firslj glimpse of the trap. Well enough he knew it — 

 had he not often crept up there, all interest, to see 

 what luck was his ? He reached that point. Perhaps 

 his head was beginning to go : at any rate he turned 

 his back and laughed. " Impossible ! as if any harm 

 could ever come to Sunlight, his darling, his gift from 

 God." And then he began to sing — the first thing 

 that came to his lips : 



What shall we do ivhen she comes this way? 



We will crown her with flowers, and make her our qneen. 



How long he stood so no man may say. But 

 at length with a strong effort he swung himself 

 and turned. Then, for one moment, his heart 

 stopped, and, with a terrible crash, he fell and 

 swooned. 



They found Carl at last. They helped him to. 

 stagger homewards, bearing in his arms the form of 

 little Sunlight, in her left hand a bunch of sweet 

 Linnaea, in her right a little living bird. 



