As the hunter and Lewis Rand approached, a little girl, brown and freckled, barefoot and dressed in linsey, sprang up from the stone before the gate, and began to run towards the house.

Her foot caught in a trailing vine, and down she fell.

Adam was beside her at once.

"Why, you little partridge!" he exclaimed, and lifted her to her feet.
"It's Vinie Mocket," said his companion.

"Vinie, where's your father ?" "I don't know, thir," answered Vinie.