a spring one-eighth of a mile
distant to get pure water. Having barred the cabin on the outside, she
was on such a trip when Susanna rode up.

The rider, with a girl's curiosity, came to the hut to look it over.
Viola heard the horse's tread and, looking between two logs from which
the chinks had fallen, saw her young friend. "Susanna, dear," she
cried, greatly excited, "Sam Wiles and Zibe Turner have taken me by
force and brought me here. My guard, Elmira Turner, has gone to the
spring for water. Ride as fast as you can, and tell my father or some
other friend of my whereabouts."

Susanna was surprised beyond measure at the discovery, and her heavenly
eyes glowed like two stars.

"O my dear teacher," she exclaimed, "I have heard that you were carried
away. I wanted to help in the search but was not able. This is awful. I
will ride back as quick as possible, and try to find some one to come
to aid you."

With this she turned her horse about, and applied whip and spur to
Maud. Regardless of obstructions frequently in her path--fallen limbs,
saplings growing close together, bushes coming to the breast of her
steed, springy soil and uneven ground--she rode with a swift pace. Her
dark hair streamed behind her. With firm hands she held the reins, and
her bright eyes traced the direction to take and also looked for some
of the searchers.

She was riding through a thick wood, tolerably free from underbrush,
when she was overjoyed to see Jasper Very riding toward her on his well
known horse, Bob. The preacher showed the marks of his exertions. His
face was flushed, his hair never very amenable to brush and comb, was
rumpled by contact with bushes, twigs and leaves. He was moving along
swiftly, ever looking for some signs which would lead him to his
beloved. He had become separated from his companion, John Larkin.

Susanna and Jasper saw each other about the same time, and in a trice
their horses were face to face. Almost breathless with hard riding and
excitement the girl told what she had learned.

The preacher was affected as though a current of electricity had passed
through his body. For a minute he was too bewildered to think, but by
an effort of will he became somewhat more calm and considered what was
best to be done.

He said: "Susanna, how can we thank you enough for this information?
God bless you for bringing it to me. Now ride as rapidly as possible to
your home and ask your father please to loan us a hor