Page 376 (1/1)

A week later all was ready for Allan's second trip into the Abyss

His arth and suppleness, for his flesh, healthy as any savage's, now had the power of healing with a rapidity unknown to civilized or dictated action--always action, progress, and acco depressed hi to the rude calendar they were keeping, that he once more bade farewell to Beatrice and, borne by the Pauillac, headed for the village of the Lost Folk

He left behind hiamon and Bremilu were noell installed in the new environht they fished in New Hope Pool,sea had never yielded

They wandered--not too far, however--in the forest, graduallythe acquaintance of the wondrous upper world, and with their strangely acute instincts finding fruits, bulbs and plants that well agreed with them for food

Allan had carefully instructed them in the use of the wonderful "fire-bow"--the revolver--warning them, however, not to waste ammunition They learned quickly, and now Beatrice found her larder supplied each night with galooer to serve their mistress in all possible ways

They fished for her as well, and all the choicest fruits were her portion She, in turn, cooked for theht she instructed thelish

Short are the annals of peace--and peace reigned at Settleress!

She could feel it, see it, every hour And her thoughts of Allan, now abandoning their reater pride

"Only he, only he could have brought these things to pass!" she murmured sometimes "Only he could have planned all this, dreaht it to reality; only he could labor for the future so strongly and so well!"

And in her heart the love that had been that of a girl becarew calthened day by day, trans to a perfect trust and confidence and peace

Allan returned safely inside the ith two more of the Folk--warriors and fishers both Beatrice would have welcomed the arrival of even one woman to bear her some kind of company, but she realized the wisdo at first," he explained, as they sat again on the terrace the evening of his return, "the very hting uard, as if this were a military expedition After that the women and children can come But for the present there's no place for them"