gainst the glaring crimson light; birches and poplars straggled up
some of the slopes; and the trail, which wound through the hollows, was
loose and heavy. The moist sand clogged the wheels and the team
plodded through it laboriously, until they came to a spot where the
melted snow running into a depression had formed a shallow lake. This
had dried up, but the soil was very soft and marshy. Grant pulled up
and glanced dubiously at the deep ruts cut in the road.

"There's a way round through the sand and scrub, but it's mighty rough
and I'm not sure we could get through it in the dark," he said.

"S'pose you double-yoke and drive straight ahead," suggested the other.
"I see you have some harness in the wagon."

Grant considered. The harness, which had been thrown in with his
purchase, was old and short of one or two pieces; it would take time
and some contriving to hitch on the second team, and the light was
failing rapidly. When he had crossed the soft place, there would still
be some rough ground to traverse before he reached the smoother trail
by which George would be riding.

"It might be as quick to go round," he replied.

"No, sir," said his companion, firmly. "There's a blamed steep bit up
the big sandhill."

Suspicion flashed on Grant; the man had led him to believe he was a
stranger to the locality, and it was significant that he should insist
upon their stopping and harnessing the second team.

"That's so," he returned. "Guess you had better get down and see if
it's very soft ahead."

The fellow rose with a promptness which partly disarmed Grant's
suspicions, and put his foot on the edge of the vehicle, ready to jump
down. Then he turned swiftly and flung himself upon the farmer,
crushing his soft felt hat down to his chin. Grant could see nothing,
and while he strove to get a grip on his antagonist he was thrown
violently backward off the driving seat. The wagon was of the usual
high pattern, and he came down on the ground with a crash that nearly
knocked him unconscious. Before he got up, he was seized firmly and
held with his shoulders pressed against the soil. He struggled,
however, until somebody grasped his legs and his arms were drawn
forcibly apart. It was impossible to see, because the thick hat was
still over his face and somebody held it fast, but he had an idea that
three or four men had fallen upon him. They had, no doubt, been hidden
among the brush; the affair had been care