lers struck up again; the callers shouted; the
dancers stamped, and bowed, and swung their partners as they sang.

And out in the night under the trees, at the edge of the gloomy
forest, the strongest man in the hills was saying over and over to
the big, white faced sorrel, "I don't dare do it. I don't dare.
Dad Howitt wouldn't. He sure wouldn't."

Very soon two figures left the house, and hurried toward a bunch
of saddle horses near by. They had untied their animals, and were
about to mount, when suddenly a huge form stepped from the shadows
to their horses' heads. "Put up your guns, boys," said Young Matt
calmly. "I reckon you know that if I'd wanted trouble, it would o'
been all over before this."

The weapons were not drawn, and the big man continued, "Dad Howitt
says a feller always whips himself every time he fights when there
ain't no--no principle evolved. I don't guess Dad would see ary
principle in this, 'cause there might be some truth in what you
boys said. I reckon I am somethin' at playin' a fool, but it would
o' been a heap safer for you to let folks find it out for
themselves."

"We all were jest a foolin', Matt," muttered one.

"That's alright," returned the big fellow; "But you'd better tie
up again and go back into the house and dance a while longer.
Folks might think you was scared if you was to leave so soon."

CHAPTER XVI.

ON THE WAY HOME.

Not until the party was breaking up, and he saw Sammy in the
doorway, did Young Matt go back to the house.

When they had ridden again out of the circle of light, and the
laughter and shouting of the guests was no longer heard, Sammy
tried in vain to arouse her silent escort, chatting gaily about
the pleasures of the evening. But all the young man's reserve had
returned. When she did force him to speak, his responses were so
short and cold that at last the girl, too, was silent. Then, man-
like, he wished she would continue talking.

By the time they reached Compton Ridge the moon was well up. For
the last two miles Sammy had been watching the wavering shafts of
light that slipped through tremulous leaves and swaying branches.
As they rode, a thousand fantastic shapes appeared and vanished
along the way, and now and then as the sound of their horses' feet
echoed through the silent forest, some wild thing in the
underbrush leaped away into the gloomy depth.

Coming out on top of the narrow ridge, the brown pony crowded
closer to the big