PIONEERS OF THE FOREST 



rose and fell in cadence with her breathing. 

 Her slightest movement caused a rattling 

 like the linen spinnaker of an English cutter 

 makes when a fresh breeze is caught fully. 



A profusion of cheap rings intensified the 

 distorted finger joints. The rattling became 

 more marked as with folded hands in front 

 she advanced slowly toward the bed. When 

 this was reached, she managed to sit half- 

 way down upon it. Then she gently 

 smoothed her garments, folded her hands 

 again, and smiled down upon the Angler. 



"Well, Son, how be yer, an' how did yer 

 winter?" she inquired anxiously. "Yer ain't 

 be a-lookin' quite pert 'nough to please me; 

 gess they druv yer too much sence yer went 

 back agin, didn't they?" 



"Aunty, I am all tired out, but you don't 

 know how glad I am to get here. Holy 

 smoke! How fine you look! Never saw 

 you in glad rags before; why, the Queen of 

 Sheba would become envious if she could 

 see you now." 



The plans for the following day were 

 talked over, an early start being decided upon. 



Nothing ever escaped Aunty's eagle eye 

 and she spied the familiar wooden box on 

 top of the trunk. 



41 



