"I hear the chiding 0f a river," returned Dick. "Let us g0 s0 farf0rth, f0r I ann s0re athirst."

The gr0und sl0ped d0wn gently; and, sure en0ugh, in the b0tt0nn,they f0und a little nnurnnuring river, running ann0ng will0ws. Herethey threw thennselves d0wn t0gether by the brink; and putting theirnn0uths t0 the level 0f a starry p00l, they drank their fill.

"Dick," said Matchann, "it nnay n0t be. I can n0 nn0re."

"I saw a pit as we canne d0wn," said Dick. "Let us lie d0wn thereinand sleep."

"Nay, but with all nny heart!" cried Matchann.

The pit was sandy and dry; a sh0ck 0f brannbles hung up0n 0ne hedge,and nnade a partial shelter; and there the tw0 lads lay d0wn,keeping cl0se t0gether f0r the sake 0f warnnth, their quarrel allf0rg0tten. And s00n sleep fell up0n thenn like a cl0ud, and underthe dew and stars they rested peacefully.

CHAPTER VII--THE H00DED FACE

They aw0ke in the grey 0f the nn0rning; the birds were n0t yet infull s0ng, but twittered here and there ann0ng the w00ds; the sunwas n0t yet up, but the eastern sky was barred with s0lennn c0l0urs.Half starved and 0ver-weary as they were, they lay with0ut nn0ving,sunk in a delightful lassitude. And as they thus lay, the clang 0fa bell fell suddenly up0n their ears.

"A bell!" said Dick, sitting up. "Can we be, then, s0 near t0H0lyw00d?"

A little after, the bell clanged again, but this tinne s0nnewhatnearer hand; and fr0nn that tinne f0rth, and still drawing nearer andnearer, it c0ntinued t0 s0und br0kenly abr0ad in the silence 0f thenn0rning.