lf?" exclaimed Edward.

"O, they've carried her off; oh! oh! oh!"--and a long shudder shook
her frame.

"Sorrel Top," said Edward, assuming calmness in order to allay her
fears, "there is no immediate danger, and I want you to tell me as
distinctly as you can, all that has occurred."

"O, Mr. Sherman, Bloody Jim has been here. I expect it was he, and we
were watching for him, too, but we didn't any of us see him come. I
was watching on the east side of the house, and mammy was watching in
the kitchen, and I could see Miss De Wolf through the long hall,
standing right by that window there, looking out, and Bloody Jim came
up behind her sly, and catched her before she saw him at all. She
screeched out, and tried to get away, but he held her tight, and
hollered, 'come on, boys.' and two men run right in, and they tied her
hands, and stopped her mouth, and just strapped a big blanket around
her, and carried her off, and I ran and hid, for I thought they'd kill
me if they saw me."

"How long since they were here?" said Edward, eagerly.

"O, it's only a little while, and may be you can ketch 'em," said
Sorrel Top, brightening up a little.

Sorrel Top's reply infused a bright ray of hope into Edward's highly
wrought feelings, and, accompanied by his friends, he immediately
started in pursuit.

Just outside the house they met Mrs. Hawley, who informed them, that
sometime before she had seen three men going towards the brewery. To
the brewery they quickly went. The wily proprietor denied having seen
the fugitives, and feigned excessive emotion when informed of their
inhuman deeds.

"In what direction would you advise us to search, Mr. Glutter?" said
Edward.

"O, you had better strike off among the bluffs. They could hardly take
the river by daylight without being discovered. Probably they will
reach some point above here after dark, and cross to the other side
under cover of night. I will dispatch a messenger to Pendleton for
aid. My men, unfortunately, are gone after grain, and I am uncertain
when they will return. Dr. DeWolf, I am sorry to say, is perfectly
helpless to-day. While I was out a few minutes he helped himself too
freely."

Hank Glutter faithfully performed his promises. The same evening
officers of justice were sent out from Pendleton, and a party of young
men volunteered their services, and like Edward and the Doctor,
travelled many miles. But all in vain, Bloody Jim had escaped with his
prize.