torn, that
his hat was gone, and that he was dripping with perspiration; but
he could hear his labored breathing. Strong as he was, the young
giant was nearly exhausted by the strain of his race over the
mountains.

"Get up quick, Dad; I'll tell you while you're puttin' on your
clothes," the woodsman answered; and while the shepherd dressed,
he told him in a few words, finishing with, "Call Brave inside,
and get your gun, with all the shells you can find. Don't show a
light for a minute. They'll be here any time now, and it'll be a
good bit yet before Sammy can get home." He began fastening the
front door.

The peaceful minded scholar could not grasp the meaning of the
message; it was to him an impossible thought; "You must be
mistaken, Grant," he said. "Surely you are excited and unduly
alarmed. Wash Gibbs has no reason to attack me."

Young Matt replied gruffly, "I ain't makin' no mistake in the
woods, Dad. You ain't in the city now, and there ain't no one can
hear you holler. Don't think I am scared neither, if that's what
you mean. But there's ten of them in that bunch, and they're bad
ones. You'd better call Brave, sir. He'll be some help when it
comes to the rush."

But the other persisted, "You must be mistaken, lad. Why should
any one wish to harm me? Those men are only out fox hunting, or
something like that. If they should be coming here, it is all a
mistake; I can easily explain."

"Explain, hell!" ejaculated the mountaineer. "I ask your pardon,
Dad; but you don't know, not being raised in these woods like me.
Old man Lewis hadn't done nothing neither, and he explained, too;
only he never got through explainin'. They ain't got no reason.
They're drunk. You've never seen Wash Gibbs drunk, and to-night
he's got his whole gang with him. I don't know why he's comin'
after you, but, from what you told me 'bout his stoppin' here that
evenin', and what I've heard lately, I can guess. I know what
he'll do when he gets here, if we don't stop him. It'll be all the
same to you whether he's right or wrong."

Brave came trotting into the cabin through the rear door, and lay
down in his corner by the fireplace. "That's mighty funny," said
Young Matt. Then, as he glanced quickly around, "Where's Pete?"

The boy had slipped away while the two men were talking. Stepping
outside they called several times; but, save the "Wh-w-h-o--w-h-o-
o-o" of an owl in a big tree near the corral, there was no answer.

"The boy'