to his loft. Both were soon in the sound slumber that is the lot of men
who do much outdoor labour.

The girl helped the old woman to bed in the kitchen. Then she went back
and sat in the chamber of death.

Outside, the wind hustled the fallen leaves.




CHAPTER V.


At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly. The new
day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled. The dead man
might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an
early one.

He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the
water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the
shore to avoid the autumn storms. The stones of the beach looked black:
here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and
moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.

It was by dint of great exertion that they got the clumsy vessel into
the water and fastened her to a small wooden landing. They used more
strength than time in their work. There was none of that care and skill
required in the handling of the scow that a well-built craft would have
needed. When she was afloat and tied, they went up the hill again, and