"I bestow upon thee a crown of laurel," announced Hippy solemnly amid
shouts of laughter.

"Come, children. Breakfast is ready," called Grace Harlowe.
"Washington!"

"Ah'm comin'," answered the colored boy from the bush. "Ah found dis on
de saddle," he announced, holding out an envelope to Grace.

She took it wonderingly.

"What's this? The rural free delivery man here so early in the morning!"
questioned Emma.

"This is addressed to you, Lieutenant," said Grace, handing the envelope
to Lieutenant Wingate.

Hippy read it and a frown grew on his face, deepening as he read it a
second time.

"More mystery?" questioned Anne Nesbit.

"Yes. Listen to this, will you?"

Hippy read out loud the following words, almost illegible on the much
smeared paper:

"'Yuh-all will git out o' these mountings right
smart. We-all knows who yuh be. We-all knows why
yuh be here. Turn aroun' an' git out or it'll be
th' wus fer yuh-all.'"

"They propose to drive us out, do they?" murmured Grace.

"I looked for something of the sort," nodded Elfreda. "Is the letter
signed?"

"No. But wait a moment. There is a postscript here that I haven't read,"
said Hippy. "Talk about your mysterious forces! Just listen to this
postscript, written in another hand and evidently by an intelligent
person."

CHAPTER XII

A MOUNTAIN MYSTERY

"Perhaps the postscript is to tell us that it is all a mistake and that
we do not have to leave," suggested Emma.

"Listen!" commanded Hippy, then began to read:

"'Do not follow the trail you are on, on your way to Thompson's. Strike
due north for half a mile and you will come up with a wagon trail,
broader and safer, because you can see a long way on either side through
the thin forest. Keep the broad trail for fifteen miles, take third left
and second right, which will take you to Thompson's. You're all right,
but be vigilant. The above warning means what it says.'"

"Is there a name signed to the postscript?" asked Miss Briggs.

Hippy shook his head.

"I know who wrote that postscript," spoke up Miss Dean. "It was our
Mystery Man, Jeremiah Long."

Grace asked for the letter, which she scrutinized critically.

"No, this is not his writing," she decided.

"How do you know? He hasn't been corresponding with you," objected
Hippy.

Grace explained that Mr. Long had left a note thanking the Overlanders
for their hospitality. To make certain tha