of her lying there in her little room.  Why should she die? he reasoned.  The scouts wanted her, and so did her mother.  He tossed for a long time upon his pillow, and when he did at last fall into a fitful slumber, he dreamed of Whyn, and the money the scouts had earned.  They seemed to be mixed up in some funny way.  He saw the girl holding out her hands to the scouts while they were counting over a large roll of crisp bills.

He could not get clear of this dream when he awoke in the morning, and he thought much of it during breakfast.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Royal had noticed something unusual about Rod’s manner.  At first they thought that he was not well, and they watched him carefully as they now sat at the table.  They were naturally proud of the part he had taken in the capturing of the river-thieves, as well as the way he was developing into such a strong manly boy.

“I saw Doctor Travis last night,” the clergyman at length began.  “He and Doctor Sturgis from the city held a consultation over Whyn yesterday afternoon.  I am afraid that her case is very serious.”

“I expected as much,” Mrs. Royal replied, with a deep sigh.  “The poor girl has been failing rapidly of late, so I understand.”

Rod laid down the knife with which he was spreading his bread, and fixed his eyes full upon the clergyman’s face.  His heart beat fast, and he was very pale.

“She has one chance, however, so the doctor said,” the parson continued, “but I fear that is almost out of the question.”

“And what is that?” Mrs. Royal enquired, as her husband paused, and began to toy thoughtfully with his napkin-ring.

“To send her to some great specialist in New York.  An operation of a most serious nature is necessary, but it will take so much money that it seems almost ridiculous even to think of such a thing.  It is about all that Mrs. Sinclair can do to make a living as it is.”

“But surely there is some one who would be willing to advance the money,” Mrs. Royal replied.  “Is it right that the girl should die without an effort being made to save her life?”

“It would take a large sum, Martha, and I am afraid that there is no one sufficiently interested in the girl who is able to do much.  The specialist’s fees alone would be great, to say nothing of other expenses.  I know where some of the money could be obtained, but I should be most loath to use it.”

As Rod sat and listened, with flushed face and sparkling eyes, the dream of the past night once more came into his mind.  He saw Whyn holding out her hands to the scouts while they were busy counting over their money.  Then an idea came to him which caused him to give vent to a slight expression of delight.

“What is it, dear?” Mrs. Royal enquired.  “You seem to be amused over something.”

“I was only thinking, grandma, and could not help it.”  He wished to unburden his mind, but thought it best to wait until he had seen either Captain Josh or the rest of the scouts.