fur you know I can't march, an' I
nebber could shoot none, an' I got de rheumertiz in both me legs and me
back, and no jint-water in me knees--you can't make no soldier out er
me, Mah'sr George.' And then he laughed, an' says, 'You would make a
pretty soldier, dat's true, Uncle Braddock. But I don't want no
soldiers; what I want you to do is to take these horses home.' 'To
where? says I. 'To Akeville,' says Mah'sr George. An' he didn't say much
more, neither; for he jist tied dem horses all together and led 'em out
into a little road dat goes fru de woods dar, an' he put me on de head
horse, an' he says, 'Now, go 'long, Uncle Braddock, an' ef anything
happens to dem hosses you'll have to go to jail fur it. So, look out!'
An' bress your soul, Mah'sr Harry, I did have to look out, fur sich a
drefful time as I did have, 'specially wid dat yaller hoss, I nebber did
see."

CHAPTER XV.

THE COUNCIL.

When Harry's mother heard that he had gone off to try and meet the
horse-hunters she was quite anxious about him.

But Mr. Loudon laughed at her fears.

"If there had been the slightest danger," he said, "of course I would
not have allowed him to go. But I was glad he wanted to go. A youngster
of his age ought to have a disposition to see what is going on and to
take part, too, for that matter. I had much rather find it necessary to
restrain Harry than to push him. You mustn't want to make a girl of him.
You would only spoil the boy, and make a very poor girl."

Mrs. Loudon made no reply. She thought her husband was a very wise man;
but she took up her key basket and went off to the pantry with an air
that indicated that she had ideas of her own upon the subject in
question.

Kate had no fears for Harry. She had unbounded faith in his good sense
and his bravery, if he should happen to get into danger.

The fact is, she was quite a brave girl herself; and brave people are
very apt to think their friends as courageous as themselves.

When Harry and Uncle Braddock reached the village they found several of
the older inhabitants on the store porch, and they met with an
enthusiastic reception.

And when, later in the afternoon, most of the men who had gone out after
George Mason, returned from their unsuccessful expedition, the
discussion in regard to Mason's strange proceeding grew very animated.
Some thought he had only intended to play a trick; others that he had
been unable to get away with the horses, as he ha