cially.
They were in an unfrequented part of the mountains, which cottagers and
hotel guests rarely explored. The mountaineer was saying:

"Mountain folks air slow, and we don't know much, but a stranger don't
ride through these hills more than once for the scenery; the second time
he's got to tell why; and the third time--well, Miss, you kin tell the
little fella' that there ain't no third time."

Chauvenet flushed and he ejaculated hotly:

"I have never been here before in my life."

The man dropped the rifle into his arm without taking his eyes from
Chauvenet. He said succinctly, but still with his drawl:

"You air a liar, seh!"

Chauvenet took a step forward, looked again into the rifle barrel, and
stopped short. Fanny, bored by the prolonged interview, bent her neck and
nibbled at a weed.

"This gentleman has been in America only a few weeks; you are certainly
mistaken, friend," said Shirley boldly. Then the color flashed into her
face, as an explanation of the mountaineer's interest in a stranger
riding the hills occurred to her.

"My friend," she said, "I am Miss Claiborne. You may know my father's
house down in the valley. We have been coming here as far back as I can
remember."

The mountaineer listened to her gravely, and at her last words he
unconsciously nodded his head. Shirley, seeing that he was interested,
seized her advantage.

"I have no reason for misleading you. This gentleman is not a revenue
man. He probably never heard of a--still, do you call it?--in his
life--" and she smiled upon him sweetly. "But if you will let him go I
promise to satisfy you entirely in the matter."

Chauvenet started to speak, but Shirley arrested him with a gesture, and
spoke again to the mountaineer in her most engaging tone:

"We are both mountaineers, you and I, and we don't want any of our people
to be carried off to jail. Isn't that so? Now let this gentleman ride
away, and I shall stay here until I have quite assured you that you are
mistaken about him."

She signaled Chauvenet to mount, holding the mystified and reluctant
mountaineer with her eyes. Her heart was thumping fast and her hand shook
a little as she tightened her grasp on the rein. She addressed Chauvenet
in English as a mark of good faith to their captor.

"Ride on, Monsieur; do not wait for me."

"But it is growing dark--I can not leave you alone, Mademoiselle. You
have rendered me a great service, when it is I who should have extric