were engaged in conversation, Hippy now
and then interjecting a question, for the topic under discussion was the
tract of land owned by Hippy, though not since Emma's remark had any
reference been made to Hippy's ownership of it. The guest's talk was
largely about the lay of the land there and its possibilities.

"I'll see you folks if you are going there," he promised finally. "I
shall be in that section of the range about three weeks from now, and
maybe I can do you some good."

"Thank you," smiled Grace. "We shall be pleased to see you then or at
any other time. Mr. Gray leaves to-morrow morning for the Cumberlands
where he has business, and we hope to join him, or rather to have him
join us, in about that time. I think--"

"Hulloa the camp!" shouted a voice from the bushes on the opposite side
of the camp from that by which Mr. Long had entered.

"Hulloa yourself!" bellowed Hippy Wingate. "Come in. The door's wide
open."

An instant later a man stepped into the camp, a rifle slung under one
arm, a revolver hanging from his belt in its holster. He was tall, gaunt
and raw-boned, a typical Kentucky mountaineer, and, as he stood there
surveying the Overland Riders from beneath his broad-brimmed hat, not a
word was spoken on either side. The mountaineer was studying the members
of the Overland party, and the Overland Riders were regarding him
inquiringly.

"Why, where is--" began Emma Dean, but a gesture from Grace checked her.
Not so with Washington Washington, however.

"Whar dat man?" he cried, referring to their first visitor.

A quick glance about the camp revealed to the amazed Overlanders that
Jeremiah Long, the Mystery Man, had suddenly and mysteriously
disappeared. No one had seen or heard him go. He had simply melted away.

CHAPTER III

HIPPY BOUNCES THE "SHEREEF"

Still the newcomer stood peering into the faces of the Overlanders.
Hippy began talking to the man with his fingers in the deaf and dumb
system. The stranger regarded him frowningly, then shifted his rifle
into his right hand.

"Who be yuh?" demanded the man.

"Oh! I thought you were a dummy," apologized Hippy. "A thousand pardons,
old man."

"May I ask who _you_ are and what you wish?" questioned Grace
pleasantly, as she stepped forward.

"Ah asked yuh first. Who be yuh?"

"We are a party from the north, riding through the Kentucky Mountains
partly for pleasure, partly for business reasons."

"Whut business?"

"That