CHAPTER XIV.
Wherein Freckles Nurses a Heartache and Black Jack Drops Out "McLean," said Mrs.Duncan, as the Boss paused to greet her in passing the cabin, "do you know that Freckles hasna been in bed the past five nights and all he's eaten in that many days ye could pack into a pint cup ?" "Why, what does the boy mean ?" demanded McLean.

"There's no necessity for him being on guard, with the watch I've set on the line.

I had no idea he was staying down there." "He's no there," said Mrs.Duncan.

"He goes somewhere else.

He leaves on his wheel juist after we're abed and rides in close cock-crow or a little earlier, and he's looking like death and nothing short of it." "But where does he go ?" asked McLean in astonishment.
"I'm no given to bearing tales out of school," said Sarah Duncan, "but in this case I'd tell ye if I could.