That young man was striding homeward through the night, his head striking the stars.

His path lay through the woods, and when he came to the "sugar camp" road, he stood still, and let the memories of the night when he had snatched Maimie from the fire troop through his mind.

Suddenly he thought of Aleck McRae, and laughed aloud.
"Poor Aleck," he said.

Aleck seemed so harmless to him now.

And then he stood silent, motionless, looking straight toward the stars, but seeing them not.