stranger smiling.

"Ye--es," said Harry, slowly, for it brought to his mind that he had
one hundred and fifty dollars of the professor's money in his pocket,
besides the pocketbook containing his own. He intended to have left it
with his employer, but in the hurry of leaving he had forgotten to do
so. Now he was about to take a long ride in the evening with this large
sum of money about him.

"However," he said, reassuring himself, "there is nothing to be afraid
of. Country people are not robbers. Burglars stay in the cities. I have
nothing to fear."

Still he prudently resolved, if compelled to be out late again, to leave
his money at home.

He rose from table, followed by the stranger.

"Well," said the latter, "I must be going. How soon do you start?"

"In a few minutes."

"Well, good night."

"Good night."

"He seems inclined to be social," thought Harry, "but I don't fancy him
much."

CHAPTER XXXI.

Harry was soon on his way home. It was already getting dark, and he felt
a little anxious lest he should lose his way. He was rather sorry that
he had not started earlier, though he had lost no time.

He had gone about two miles, when he came to a place where two roads
met. There was no guideboard, and he could not remember by which road he
had come. Luckily, as he thought, he described a man a little ahead. He
stopped the horse, and hailed him.

"Can you tell me which road to take to Pentland?" he asked.

The man addressed turned his head, and, to his surprise, our hero
recognized his table companion at the inn.

"Oh, it's you, my young friend!" he said.

"Yes, sir. Can you tell me the right road to Pentland? I have never been
this way before to-day, and I have forgotten how I came."

"I am thinking of going to Pentland myself," said the other.

"My sister lives there. If you don't mind giving me a lift, I will jump
in with you, and guide you."

Now, though Harry did not fancy the man's appearance, he had no reason
to doubt him, nor any ground for refusing his request.

"Jump in, sir," he said. "There is plenty of room."

The stranger was speedily seated at his side.

"Take the left-hand road," he said.

Harry turned to his left.

"It's rather a blind road," observed the stranger.

"I think I could remember in the daytime," said Harry; "but it is so
dark now, that I am in doubt."

"So I suppose."

The road on which they had entered was very lonely. Scarcely a house was
pa