Chapter I: A Stranger and a Promise 11

II. A PACKAGE BY MAIL 24
III. IN THE WILDERNESS 36
IV. A HALT ON THE ROAD 44
V. A DOUBLE RESCUE 57
VI. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 72
VII. A TRIP TO THE CITY 78
VIII. OPPORTUNITY 91
IX. A STARTLING APPEARANCE 98
X. STEVE DEVELOPS A MIND OF HIS OWN 111
XI. EXPERIENCE 129
XII. LOVE'S AWAKENING 149
XIII. OLD TIES RENEWED 160
XIV. "ALL RIGHT, SON" 180
XV. FLICKERING HOPE 190
XVI. IN THE CRUCIBLE 198
XVII. FRUITION 204

ILLUSTRATIONS

"I kin kill rabbits if I can't do nothin' else" _Frontispiece_
The Old Greely Mill 70
"Hit's Champ fer his pappy" 142
"Tilda pacing back and forth at her spinning-wheel" 174

THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT