o start in pursuit of the missing witness,
and at once made his preparations for the journey.

Fortunately he had with him as much money as he would be likely to want,
and to harness his horses and to gather up such things as he might need
was but the work of a few moments.

"Don't come back without your man!" shouted Bob, as George drove away.

And the defenders of "The Harnett" and the Simpson farm were left alone
to await the coming of Mr. Gurney, and of George with the missing
witness.

All of them feared that Massie's next attempt to gain admittance would
be made under the cover of darkness, and to prevent this from being
successful Bob went to work.

First he sent one of the men on his horse to Sawyer to purchase a number
of lanterns, and while the messenger was gone he got from Mrs. Simpson
all the blankets and comfortables she had.

It was his purpose that half his men should sleep at their posts during
the night, while the others watched, in order that they might be able to
continue sentry duty for any length of time, and he also proposed that
each one on guard should carry a lantern, that both he and any one who
might meditate an attack, would know those in possession of the property
were still on the alert.

This done, the inmates and guardians of the farm were ready for the
coming of the night.

CHAPTER XXXV.

MASSIE'S FAILURE.

Although Bob had taken so many precautions against the coming of the
enemy during the night, they were all useless, since neither Mr. Massie
nor any one in his employ appeared at the Simpson farm.

"Well," said Bob, next morning, while he was waiting for Mrs. Simpson to
prepare the breakfast for the sentinels, "since they didn't come during
the night they'll most likely be here to-day, so it won't do for us to
grow careless."

As the day wore on, and nothing was seen of the force which it was
believed would appear, Ralph said to Bob:

"If father started as soon as he got my telegram, he ought to be here on
the train to-night, and some of us must drive into town for him."

"That's true, and you must be the one to go," replied Bob, decidedly.
"You can take my team, and if any one comes while you are gone, we shall
get rid of them, I guess."

Since Mr. Hillman wished to go to his office for some law-books and
papers before Mr. Gurney arrived, Ralph started off with him about
noon, leaving the farm with the often-expressed wish that nothing would
happen during