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“This is Wilfrith Lake,” said Cordic, “and we are near home.” Now an unforseen difficulty pre- , salted itself. The lake was far too ‘ ‘Eeep $0~rpufifi-vin;mnd‘théi'had no oars. For the next- hour their pro- gress would be slow. Cerdic came to the rescue. With his knife he cut a foot 9f .wood from each punt pole, with irifinite labor; ,then he fashioned the tpugh whod intofour ' smut pegs. . Gurth drilled two ,holes in the gu’pwales of the punt, , fiiiih the dagwr. which had been It was a, holy and wonderful evâ€" ening-time, as the boat glided on through the vast shining solitudes. The heavenly influence stole into _the souls of the three serfs, and ~urged/them of all fear and sorrow. megine the enormous change in tliei“.1ives. A curtain seemed to have fallen over all that they had known. The noise of the horrible castle,.the sharp orders, the leash of the whip, the. foetid terrors of the stoke, had all vanished as if they had never been. Before them might lie :1 wonderful life, possible happi- ness, freedom. At any rate, for the moment they were free, and the sky shone like the very pavements of heaven. Day by day, as their work at Hi1- gay was drawing to-a close, the shy had been as beautiful as this. The sky hadbeen all gold andred, and copper green and great purple cloud.» had passed over it like a march of kings. But they had never seen it until now. Freedom had come to them‘ and whispered in their ears. She had passed her hands over their eyes, and they be- gan to know, with a sort of wonder, that the world was beautiful. Nor was this all of the gracious mes- sage. Everything was altered. Hyla, it will be remembered, had a face of little outward intelligence. He had, in fact, the face of a serf. But the latent possibilities of it had bee- made fine realities within the last few hours. What he had done, his own independent action, woke up the God in him, as it were. His voice was not so'slipshod. Round his month were two fine lines of de- cision, his lips did not seem so full, his eyes were alert and conscious. All three of them noticed the beautiful gunset with surprise, as if it were” a, ‘thing that had never been before their eyes till now. It is obviously most difficult for us to project ourselves with any certainty into the mood* of these three men. The whole conditions of our lives are so absolutely differ- ent. But we can at any rate imag- ine for ourselves, with some kind- ness of spirit, how joyous these tremnlous beginnings of‘freedom must have been! The modern talk. of “freedom,” the boasting 'of na- tions that enjoy it, does not mean \ery much to ps. The thing is a part of our lives, we do not know how much it is. But whoshall es- timate the mysterious splendor that "irradiated the hearts of those three poor outcasts! Gurth was a sunny-haired, nut- brown youth, straight, as a willow wand, and of a careless, happy dis- fiosition. But he had been cowed y the. stern and cruel subjection under which he had lived. One could see the change in him also. He flung his arms about as he punted, with the ‘graceful move- ments of a. free man who felt his limbs his own. Little smiles ripâ€" pled round his lips, he looked like a young man thinking of a, girl. The long supple poles went swish- ing into the water and‘ the boat leapt forward. They rose trailing out of the water, and the drops fell from them in cascades of jewels, green, crimson, and pearl. Every now and again the turnings of the passage brought them to a stretch of water which went due west./ ‘hen they glided up a sheet of pure vivid crimson, and at the. end the fiery half-globe of the sun. ' Just as the sun was dipping away they rested again for halfâ€"anâ€"hour, and when they went on it was dark. 'At last, when the night was all vel- vet black and full of mysterious voices, they turned a corner, and suddenly the punt poles could find no bottom, though they went on with the impetus of the last stroke. A greater silence suddenly envel- oped .them, they saw no reeds round them, the horizon seemed in- definite. FREEDOM AT LAST CHAPTER VII. History of a' Man Who Lived in Misery and Torture ” Something strange was occurring “some half a mile away, judging from the sound. A long musical wail came over the water at regular in- tervals, and it was answered by the sound of many voices. “Hist!” said Gurth suddenly. "Listen! 'Cann‘ot you hear any- thing? Wailing voices like spirits in pain!” They shipped the poles and bent out over the béat listening .intently. taken from Pierce. Then they haxn- m'ered the pegs into the holes and made rough rowlocks. There were no- sea-ts in the punt, and the thin poles did nbt catch the water very well, but by standing with their faces towards the how they were able\to make slow but steady proâ€" gress. It was a little unnerving. They could not be sure of their direction except in a very general way. It was chilly on this great lake, and vver" lonely. Hyla, and Gurth also, began to think of the great black hand. Who knew what; lay beneath those sombre waters? Never befvére in their lives had they spent such an exciting day. Hardy as they were, inured to all the chances and changes of a, rough day, they began to be rather afraid, and their nerves throbbed uncom- fortably. Indeed, it is little to be wondered at. .They were men and not machines of steel. Onée a 316% moth, which bed strayed far out over the waters, flapped into Hyla’s face with an unpleasant warmness and beating of wings. He gave a little involuntary cry of alarm, which was echoed with a. quick gasp from the other two. “What is that 7” said Cerdic. V “Only a buterfleoge,” Hyla an- swered him. “For the moment I was fearful, but it was nothing, am: as light as a. leaf on a linden tree.” As they watched and listened in terror, they saw a tiny speck ;of light on a, level with the water, which appeared to be, moving to- wards them. The voices grew loud- er. and then with agasp of reliei the fugitives heard the tones of men singing. The shore sloped gradually down to the lake’s edge in a smooth sweep of grass sward which met the water without any break. .A few yards up the slope high trees fr-inge‘d .a road which led to the Abbey on the hill- top. Icomb was, in fact, a low is- land about half a mile square. Its highest point was hardly out of the fen mists. Round about in the country, the place was always spo- ker. of as an Abbey, t ough it was, as a. matter of fact, no more than a. Priory, and of no great importance at that. “They are the fathers from Icomb,” said Hyla; “they are looking for‘us, and have come out in their boats.” The boat of the fathers was now quite close to the serfs. The Ian- tern in the bows sent out long wavering streaks of light into the dark, and the many voices were full, and clear,' and strong. “Ahoy! alloy!” shouted: Cerdic in t“emulous salutation. Icomb was the most lonely place in all the Eastern counties that the monks could have chosen for their retreat from the perils and unrests of this world. The low. tree-cremaâ€" ed island hill, surrounded by vast waters, protected by savage swamps, hidden in the very heart OI the fen, was ideal for their pur- pose. A No better sanctuary could be found for fugitives. Richard Es- There was a full-vniced shout of welcome, and the- great, boat came alongside with_ a. swirl of o'a“_rs. ‘ No better sanctuary could be feund for fugitives. Richard Es- pec, the prior of 100mb, was always ready to extend a hand of welcome to the oppressed. The time was so black and evil, such a horrible clcud of violence hung over Eng- land. that he felt it his bounden duty to make his house a, refuge. The two boats were hauled up the slope, and the party .went singing up the hill in the moonlight. The dark trees which lined the'road n(.dded and whispered at their pas- sing, as the holy song went rolling away amohg the leaves. The three The. singing stopped suddenly. "What are you?” came over the wate‘. “Hyla of Hilgay, with Cerdic and Gurth.” V‘e‘iy soon they came. to the op- pogjte‘gllore 9f the lakg. " serfs felt‘ wonderfully safe and happy. The dark depths of the thicket had no‘suggestion ofva. lurk- ing enemy, the moon shone full and white over the road, and above, the rtall buildings of the. Priory waited [far them. The hand of God seemed \ leading them, aqd His presence was [*Verymear. ‘ They > buried Geofiroi de‘ la. Buurné, the day after his murder, in a. pit, dug in thg cagtlg chsgpe], It was not a very impressive ceremony. I do not think that the little chapel made it appear sordid and tawdry. 'It was not the lack of furniture for ritual. Some more subtle force was at work. God would not be present at that fun- eral, one might almost say. underâ€" the flags. The bell tolied, and the pillars of the place were bound round with black. The three men sat round a. small, massive table‘» “Well,” said Fulke, “IL is most certain that it was this theow Hyla. Everything points to that. As far as we have found, he was therchief instrument in the plot. For, look you, it was to him, so that boy said before he died, that the others looked. He seemed to be. the leader. Bv grace of Hea- ven all the rogues shall die a very speedy death, but for him I will have especial care.” After the service was over Fulke summoned Lewin and Anslem to him in his own chamber. The squires were not there, for the pre- parations for the siege were being pushed on rapidly, and they were (meeting them. “The thing is to catch him,” said Dom An_s1em, “and I wist no easy job. Are. you going to pull down Icomb Priory?” “Also,” said Anslem. “we have but, a. week at the most before we are within these four walls with no outgoing for, many a, day.” “I would do that, and burn every monk to Cinders if I had time and men enough.” “That is impossible,” said Le- win. “My lord, it’sin the middle of a lake, up a steep hill, and with a. meat moat and twin outer walls. We. could never come by Icomb.”‘ “This is till I Can think of,” said Lewin. “These serfs have fled to Icomb, and, no doubt, have been taken in very gladly by the monks. We are not loved in these parts, Lord Fulke. But Richard Esp’ic is not going‘.to keep them in great case with Wine and heydegwye-s. They will work for their bread. Outside the monastery walls there is a. village for the servants, on the edge of the corn-lands. Now see, lord. A man may go begging to Icomb. may he not? For the night he will sleep in the hospitium. Af- ter that, if he wanteth work, and will'sign anddeliver seisin to be a man of Icomb for three years, I doubt nothing but the monks rwill have him gladly. They do ever on that plan. He will live in the vil- lage. Well, then, that night let there be a swift boat moored to the island, and let the first man come to it and tell those therein where this Hyla lies. The rest is very easy. A man can be bopnd up and. thrown into the .boat in half-an- hour, and then we will have him here.” ' “Whaâ€"t’s tp do :1” Fulke asked gloqmilyt " “Ventail and Vi-sorl”, said Fulke, “that is good, Lewin, we will have him safe as a rat. But I have an- other thought too. I had forgot- tn-n. The man’s daughter Elgifu is still in the castle. It is not fitting that she should live.” He went to the door and opened it, shouting down the stairs; A ,manâ€"at-arm‘s came clattering up to him, making a great noise in the narrow stone stairway. He order- ed that the girl should be brought to him, and presently she stood in front of them white and trembling, for she saw their purpose in their eyes. Fulke snarled at him. “Girl or no girl; she shall die, and die heavâ€" ily. By the roodl I will avenge my iather’snmurder so that men may talk of it.” “Perhaps you are *right, my lcr ,” gsaid Lewin; “it is as well that she should be killed. I only thought that she is a very pretty girl.” “ ’Tis but a girl,” said Lewin, the sentimentalist. r “There are plenty mofe, min- 1361‘.” VYVM. “You are going to be hanged, girl,”‘~ said Fulke, “and first you shall be well whipped in the castle yard. What of “that? Do you like that? Hey?” .._ . - . 1‘ His narrow face was lit up spite, and he brought his down upon the table with a. blow. bufét ipto pitiful pleadings and, tremulous’ appeals. Hie}: voice CHAPTER VIII. with hand great The main object of pruning is to be able to produce larger and'bet- ter fruit than could be secured without pruning. If a fruit tree is filled with branches thickly, the itiee will have twice as much fruit ‘as it can bring to perfection. If each Qatar we thin out a few of the lbranches we thus thin out the fruit and at the same time. permit the gays of the sun to penerate so as 1to color the fruit and bring it to iperfection. If too many branches 1are taken out and the sun admit- fted too freely in the. top of the tree it may be injurious. If there are too many branches in the tree 'and they are too close. together the air cannot circulate among the branches and the fruit will not be as attractive nor as good in qua- lity. Sunshine and circulation of air are as necessary to the fruit tree was fertility in the soil.â€"Green’s Fruit Grower. ’ Why should we prune a. fruit tree? There- are many-.peopIe-who can scarcely give a. reason for pr uning. If they cannot give a. rea- son this is good evidence that} they do not_understand pruning. You know why we prune the hedge. It is for the purpose of keeping the hedge dense and low. Why do we not trim our oaks, maples and elms‘l For the reason that we desire them to be.densely headed, thus it cannot be said we him our apple trees to make them more beautiful. Should we trim our elms, maples and oaks back to make them longer lived or more healthful? No, it is not, natural {tr treeswf any kind to be pruned they are not apt to be so long lived after pruning nor so handsome to 1cok at. Cows need a, constant supply of water. In the summer time when the days are warm and the amount of moisture perspired by the ani- mals is large-,' there is a. more ur- gent demand that water be con- venient to the animals abundant. The common practice of shutting the animals in the back pasture lot from early morning till milking time in the evening without a chance to get to water, is wrong. Either ar- rangements should be made so the cows may come to the barn for water or, better yet, a supply uhould be. had in the pasture lot. A windmill can be easily and cheap- rang in agony' through the room. “1 cannot die, lor ,” 'she said. “Oh, lord, kill me not. My lord, my lord! my dear lord! I cannot bear it!” The brute watched her with a. sneer, and then turned to the manâ€" at-arms. “Tie her up to the draw- well, strip her naked and give her fifty stripe-s. Then hang her, nakâ€" ed, on the tree outside the castle gate.” ‘ WATER SUPPLY IN PASTURE. THE OBJECT OF PRUNING. . The Daimler Motor 60., (1904) Limited, _ ~ COVENTRY, ENGLAND." J The Dewar Challenge Trophy is awarded yearly by the ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB for the most meritorigus per- formance of tibia year under the general regulations for certi- fied trials; The New Daimler engine has now been _in the hands of the public for nearly 18 month?) quite long enough to prove its merit; owners are sending in testimonials by every post and we should like to forward to any person or persons interest- ed a, complete set of literature fully explaining this marvel- lous new motor. Send also for our new illustrated booklet, “The Dewar Trophy and how it was won.” a, history of the Greatest Engine Test on Record. ” MOTOR CA RRIAG ES (To be’ continued.) z AWARDED DEWAR TROPHY. 1y installed over a. well in the field. The absence of buildings near will make a. low derrick sufficient to get good results. With an overflow pipe properly arranged to carry away excess water, the mill may be left in gear constantly; and will usual- ly keep the animals well supplied 'with' fresh. water. ’ The only care required is to keep the pump pack; ed and the mill oiled. Nothing, 0! course, surpasses springs for this purpose, but these are only to the low. A running stream is eXcellent but the practice of making the cows go to stagnant pools for water ’can- not be too severely condemned both on account of the health of the ani- mals and the wholesomeness of the milkâ€"A H. x son, in the way of spraying, culti- vating, etc., but that with the de- struction of the crop, they became discouraged, and were ready to give up trying to keep trees healthy and vigorous. This is a, mistake. ‘Buds for next year’s crop are formed this season, and trees cam not form fruit buds unless they are kept healthy and vigorous. Take care of your trees every year â€"then there will be fewer off sea.- sons. The Indiana Experiment Station has sent out a circular under the above heading, which is very time- ly. It ,calls attention to the fact that, notwithstanding the fruit crop may have been badly injured, or even totally destroyed, trees 'and wants should be given good care, so that fruit buds may be formed fof next year’s crop._ r This ciréular says-that many far. mers in Indiana planned to give their orchards proper carp this s93»- Devoting Themselves to Embroi- dery and Tapestry Making. ' English women of position, fol- lowing in the wake of Lady Careiv, Lady Elcho and Lady Edward Ten- uant, are devoting themselves as much to needlework as did ever their grandmothers and are en. gaged upon embroideries and tapes- tries. Lady Carew and her sister, Mrs¢ Cory, have not yefi finished the great panels wherewith they mean to decorate the walls of the former’s Irish. home, Castle Boro, at. Wexford, and every morning they devote ‘some hOurs to the work. Other ladies are becoming home dressmakers and, according to «the Gentlewoman, lay out on exquisite quality of hand woven brocade, Velvet and crepe what they would otherwise expend on labor. SUMMER CARE OF ORCHARDS Lady Ilchester has a, swannery at Abbotsbury of some 1,100 birds, to say nothing of elder ducks. The beautiful white dowu collected from the birds is all sewn? on to a, quilt and each is lined with the predom- inating color of the bedroom fox which is is intended. with .pink, blue, yellow or other gay satin 0) soft silk. The white down is sewn on to the- uppermost side of the quilts, and the effect of them in tha different rodms is simply charming. The satisist can talk about thc “average man” with impunity. be- cause every man considers himself abcve the average. ' ’ ii ififid’téfiiifi 51â€"min ‘ gtocm. It not and for recipe book. Crguemljtl. Q i3â€" diaml-auâ€"zâ€"Eanui man: in w: on: again; yngleigc, a d cjouggyrgp‘ in 131: g 9p! ARISTOCRATIC SEWERS. ias'r“i.r ‘ ' sou]: .3 ,‘zcntllc. W“;