I thank you for the kindness which made you take so long a journey for my sake." "It is not kindness, it is love that makes me serve you," returned the lad earnestly.

"Every one loves you, Van der Kemp, because that curse of mankind, _revenge_, has no place in your breast." "Strange! how little man does know or guess the secret thoughts of his fellow!" said the hermit with one of his pitiful smiles.

"_Revenge_ no place in me!--but I thank you, boy, for the kind thought as well as the effort to save me.

My life is not worth much to any one.

It will not matter, I think, if my enemy should succeed.