The news which had been brought to him by mail that upon the morrow he would see the girl again, in company with his Aunt and Colonel Doolittle, had focussed matters in his mind.  Did he really love the haughty, bluegrass beauty?  He was far from sure of it, as he sat there in the little mountain-cabin, although he had been certain that he did when he had left the lowlands.

It seemed almost absurd, even to his young and sentimental mind, that one in his position should have lost his heart to an uneducated girl like Madge, but he definitely decided that, at any rate, he had never loved the other girl.  If it was not really love he felt for the small maiden of the forest-fire and spelling-book, it surely was not love he felt for the brilliant, showy, bluegrass girl.

He was reflecting discontentedly that he did not know exactly what he felt or what he wanted, when he heard Joe Lorey’s startling imitation of the panther’s cry, outside, and, rising, presently, when careful listening revealed the fact that the less obtrusive sound of human voices followed what had seemed to be the weird, uncanny call of the wild-beast, he went to the door and opened it, so that he could better listen.

Joe and the negro had not been in actual view of Layson’s cabin, up to that time.  A rocky corner, rising at the trail’s side, had concealed it.  Now they stepped around this and the lighted door and windows of the little structure stood out, despite increasing darkness, plainly in their view.

Almost instantly old Neb recognized the silhouette of Layson’s figure there against the fire-light from within.

“Marse Frank!” he cried.  “Marse Frank!”

Layson, startled by the unexpected sound of the familiar voice there in the wilderness, rushed from the door, took Neb’s trembling hand and led him to the cabin.

“Neb, old Neb!” he cried.  “By all that’s wonderful!  How did you get here alone?  I thought you all were to come up to-morrow.  Where is Aunt ’Lethe, and the Colonel, and—­and—­”

Neb, his troubles all forgotten as quickly as a child’s, stood wringing his young master’s hand with extravagant delight.  Joe Lorey disappeared like a flitting shadow of the coming night.

“Dey’re all down at de railroad, suh,” said Neb.  “Dey’re all down at de railroad.  Got heah a day befo’ dey t’ought dey would, suh, an’ sent me on ahead to let you know.  I been wanderin’ aroun’ fo’ a long time a-tryin’ fo’ to fin’ yo’.  Dat teamster what gib me a lif’, he tol’ me dat de trail war cleah from whar he dropped me to yo’ cabin, but I couldn’t fin’ it, suh, an’ I got los’.”

“And the others all are waiting at the railroad for me?  I was going down to meet them to-morrow.”

“Dey don’t expect you till to-morrow, now, suh.  Ev’rybody tol’ ’em that you couldn’t git dar till to-morrow.  I reckon dey’ll be com’fable.  Fo’ty men was tryin’ fo’ to make ’em so when I lef.”  The old darky laughed.  “Looked like dat dem chaps wat’s layin’ out dat railroad, dar, ain’t seen a woman’s face fo’ yeahs an’ yeahs, de way dey flocked aroun’.  Ev’y tent in de destruction camp war at deir suhvice in five minutes.”