The times., 1897-03-28

Little Crotchett had put by for him, ate
heartily himself, and then went toward the
Swamp.
On the hill he turned and looked back in
the direction Of Little Crotchett's window.
AS he paused he heard n voice cry 'Hcllov'
Aaron was not startled, for the sound came
from a distance. and fell but family on his
ears. He listened and heard it again
"Hello' Hello!''
1t seemed to come from the road, half d
mile away, and Aaron knew that there
was no house in that direction for a trav-
eler or passer by to hail There was
something in his tone that suggested dis
trcss.
Without waiting to listen again, the
Arab started for the road in rapid trot.
He thought he heard it again as he ran
thiScausedhimt to run the faster He climb
edthe fence that marked the line ofthe road
and sat there moment, but all was silence,
save the soft clamor of insects and frogs
that is a feature of the first half OF the
night.
Aaron had now come to a point from
which he could reac ch the swamp more CON
veniently by following the road for half a
mile, though he would have another hill
to climb. AS he jumped from the fence
into the roadthe cry came TO his ears again
and this time with startling disunctness:
Hello! Hello! Oh, isn't there some one
to hear me?"
1t was so plainly the call of some one in
distress that Aaron shouted an answer OF
encouragement, and ran as fast as he could
inthe direction from which the sound came.
The situation was so new to Rambler that,
instead of making ahead to investigate te
and report, he stuck to Aaron, whining
uneasily. AS the Son OF Ben Ali ran he
saw dinly outlined at the foot of the hill
a short distance beyond him huge some
thing that refused to take a recognizable
shape until he stood beside it, and even
then it was startling enough 1t was the
Gray Mare, Timeleons sister lying at full
length by the side of the road, and under
meath herthe Son of Ben Ali knew he would
find the White-Haired Master. But it was
not as bad as ii might have been.
"Hurt much, Master" said Aaron, lea n
ing over Mr.. \ bercrombie and touching him
on the shoulder
Not seriously replied the White
haired Master, but the leg that is under
the mare is numb
The Gray Mare, after falling, had done
nothing more than whnny. If she had
struggled TO rise the White aired Mas
ter's leg would have needed doctor, but if
the mare had risen to her feet and star ed
home the doctor would have been unneces-
sary, for the imprisoned foot was caught
In the stirrup.
Well for Mr.. Abercrombie that Aaron
knew the Gray Mare, and that the GRAY
Mare knew Aaron. She whinned when the
runaway spoke to her. She raised her head
and gathered here forefeet under her, and
then suddenly, at a word from Aaron,
lifted her weight from the leg, while the
foot was taken from the stirrup. Again
the word was given, and the Gray Mare
rose easily to her feet and shook herself.
"Can you walk, Master?' Aaron asked
81 think so-certainly.'
Yet it was not an easy thing to do.
Though the limb was not broken, owing
to the fact that the ground was damp and
soft where the Gray Mare fell, yet it had
been imprisoned for some time, and it
was both numb and bruised. The numbness
was in evidence now, as the White Haired
Master rose to his feet and tried to walk;
the bruises would speak for themselves
tomorro W.
asked.
Al am called Aaron, Master
II thought so, and I'm glad Of it. Some
day I'll thank you; but now pins and need
lesl'' The blood was beginning to circu-
late in the numb leg, and this was not by
any means a pleasant experience. Aaron