enough question."

"And got a civil answer," Ree quickly replied.

"I see you are emigrating," the stranger went on, trying to make his
coarse voice sound friendly. "I just had in mind puttin' a flea in your
ear. Because it is the wrong time of year to be goin' west, in the first
place, and the woods are full of Indians and the roads alive with
cutthroats, in the second place. If I was you young shavers I'd sell out
and wait a year or two, or till next spring anyhow, before goin' any
further. I s'pose you have a lot of goods in your cart; goin' to do some
tradin' with the Mingoes, maybe."

John pricked up his ears at this reference to the nature of their cart's
contents, but waited for Ree to speak. This the latter did at once,
respectfully but firmly.

"We are much obliged for your advice and the interest you take in us, but
we expect to be able to take care of ourselves both on the road and in
the woods. Aren't you the man we saw in the barn as we were coming up?"

The question was an experimental thrust. Ree wished to learn whether the
fellow would give a reason for having spied upon them. The man looked at
him searchingly before replying.

"I never clapped eyes on you till you come into this room," he coolly
said, however. "What do you take me for? I was only goin' to tell you
that I know a man that will buy your outfit if you want to sell!"

"Which we do not," said Ree with moderate emphasis.

"You would find a little ready money mighty handy; I don't s'pose you
have any too much," the stranger replied with assumed carelessness.

"Say; tell us what you are trying to get at, will you!" John spoke up,
with a show of spirit.

"Hold your horses, sonny!" the fellow growled. "You are almost too big
for your breeches!"

"Well what do you take us for! Maybe you have some more questions to
ask!" John exclaimed, and Ree smiled to see how heated he had become.

The stranger relapsed into silence, and presently arose and strolled
away.

Having finished their supper, the boys went into the general sitting-room
of the tavern, a long room in one end of which there was a bar, and sat
down by themselves to talk. As their conversation flagged, Ree drew from
his belt beneath his coat, the ivory handled knife Captain Bowen had been
at such pains to give them. In an idle, listless way he began stropping
the blade on his boot-leg.

A tall, lank man of fifty, with a thin, sharp face and nose, whom the
lads had noticed si