Now and again the moon showed through the cloudy night, and the air was soft and kind.

Parpon left behind him the village street, and, after a half mile or more of travel, came to a spot where a crimson light showed beyond a little hill.

He halted a moment, as if to think and listen, then crawled up the bank and looked down.

Beside a still smoking lime-kiln an abandoned fire was burning down into red coals.

The little hut of the lime-burner was beyond in a hollow, and behind that again was a lean-to, like a small shed or stable.