to plant
their small crop of corn, wheat and tobacco, and Zibe Turner, with the
cunning of a fox and the look of a savage bear, to slink through the
backwoods to his mother's little cabin some miles distant.

Monday night was a time just suited to their designs. They had to act
very cautiously for horse stealing at that time in Kentucky was
considered almost the greatest crime in the catalogue, and woe betide
any horse thief who was caught and found guilty! There was little
danger of the "law's delay" in his case, for a rope and a limb of a
tree prevented all court expenses.

By a small bridge near Franklin Schoolhouse Sam Wiles met by
appointment Zibe Turner and the two walked along the road, having
little fear of being seen as it was near midnight. They soon reached
Judge LeMonde's barn lot and now had to use the utmost caution not to
arouse the great dog Sport or any of his satellites. By degrees they
pushed open the heavy gate. Then they went to the barn door through
which the horses were led to their stalls. It was fastened, but with a
common lock. Wiles had brought a bunch of keys for just such an
emergency, and after trying two or three found one which fitted the
lock. In a moment they were inside the great barn. A long row of stalls
was just before them. They carefully closed the door and Wiles, taking
a flint and steel and some tinder from his pocket, struck out a spark
which ignited the tinder. He then applied a long brimstone match to the
tinder, and at once the match was ablaze. They soon found in which
stalls were the horses they wanted, Velox being in the first stall and
Dolly in the third. Back of the horses were pegs upon which hung
harnesses. Wiles quickly unbuckled Dolly's halter and put a riding
bridle on her. He then selected a fine saddle and placed it upon her
back. Turner did the same for Velox. They then reopened the barn door,
and Turner led Velox into the yard. Wiles at once followed with Dolly.
To prevent all suspicion they closed the barn door but left it
unlocked. It seemed as though they would get away without arousing man
or dog; but just as they were leading the horses through the barn gate
Velox, perhaps incensed at being taken from his stall at that unseemly
hour and leaving his mates, gave a loud neigh.

This sound was heard by Sport who was sleeping in a coach house at the
rear of the mansion six hundred feet away. At once the faithful animal,
suspecting something was wrong, set up