“Do you know where he is to be found?”

“No, sir, I do not.”

“Perhaps this young girl knows?”

“Doubtless she does, seeing she journeys about with him on the ridge yonder, which we call the Rock Hills.”

“Do you know her name, soldier?”

“They call her Lois, I believe.”

And that was all the news I could get of her; and I thanked the boy and slowly started to retrace my steps toward the village.

Already in the air there was something of that stillness which heralds storms; no leaves on bush and tree were now stirring; land and sky had grown sombre all