CHAPTER

      I. A waif of the night
     II.  Giving and receiving
    III.  The widow’s visit
     IV.  Rodney develops
      V. Captain Josh takes A hand
     VI.  A new friend
    VII.  Chums
   VIII.  The chums to the rescue
     IX.  Whyn
      X. His first “Good turn”
     XI.  Miss Arabella’s “Affair”
    XII.  Scout work
   XIII.  The visit
    XIV.  Unexpected assistance
     XV.  In the city
    XVI.  Whyn decides
   XVII.  Anna Royanna
  XVIII.  The way of the heart
    XIX.  The surprise
     XX.  The island adventure
    XXI.  The rounding up
   XXII.  A new adventure
  XXIII.  First aid
   XXIV.  The prodigal son
    XXV.  Drift-logs
   XXVI.  The best “Good-turn”
  XXVII.  Jimmy
 XXVIII.  Excitement at the Anchorage
   XXIX.  The troops decide
    XXX.  The night run
   XXXI.  Better than A fairy tale

ROD OF THE LONE PATROL

CHAPTER I

A WAIF OF THE NIGHT

Parson Dan chuckled several times as he sipped his hot cocoa before the fire.  It was an open fire, and the flames licked around an old dry root which had been brought with other driftwood up from the shore.  This brightly-lighted room was a pleasing contrast to the roughness of the night outside, for a strong late October wind was careening over the land.  It swirled about the snug Hillcrest rectory, rattling any window which happened to be a little loose, and drawing the forked-tongued flames writhing up the large commodious chimney.

When the third chuckle had been emitted, Mrs. Royal laid aside the paper she had been reading and looked somewhat curiously at her husband.

“The missionary meeting must have been very amusing to-night, Daniel,” she remarked.  “It is too bad that I didn’t go.”

“Oh, no, it wasn’t the meeting which was amusing,” was the reply.  “But I must say it was the best one I ever attended.  That missionary had a great story to tell and he told it well.  There was a good attendance, too, especially for such a cold night.  But you can’t guess, my dear, who was there.”

“The Bishop?”

“No, no,” and the parson rubbed his hands in glee and gave another boyish chuckle.  “Give it up, eh?” and his eyes sparkled as he turned them upon his wife’s puzzled face.

“Yes.”

“I thought so.  You could never guess, for you would never think of Captain Josh.”

“No, surely not, Daniel!” and Mrs. Royal, now all attention, drew her chair a little closer to the fire.  “What in the world took him there to-night?  I never knew him to go to church, let alone to a missionary meeting.”

“Oh, that is easily explained, dear.  His only son, you know, is in the Yukon, and he was anxious to hear about that country.  He was certainly the most interested person there, and after the meeting was over, he walked right up to Mr. Dicer and asked him if he had met his son.”