a dangerous moonshining raid his horse had gone dead
lame.

"I hardly expected to find you still here at this season," he said to
Briscoe, congratulating himself, "but I took the chances. You must lend
me a horse."

Briscoe's instincts of hospitality were paramount, and he declared that
he would not allow the new-comer to depart so summarily. He must stay and
dine; he must stay the night; he must join the hunt that was planned for
to-morrow--a first-rate gun was at his disposal.

"I'll get you back to Glaston without delay. I'll let you drive the
dog-cart with Fairy-foot, the prettiest bit of horse-flesh that ever wore
a shoe--trots to beat the band! You can hunt all day with Bayne and me,
and a little before sunset you can start for Shaftesville, and she will
whisk you there in an hour and a quarter, twenty miles. You needn't start
till five o'clock to catch the seven-ten train, with lots of time to
spare."

In spite of all denial, the telephone bell was presently jangling as
Briscoe rang up the passenger-agent at the railroad depot in the little
town of Shaftesville, twenty miles away.

"Twenty-six--yes, Central, I _did_ say twenty-six!... Hello, Tucker, is
that you?... See here--Mr. Frank Dean will be there with the dog-cart
and Fairy-foot to-morrow evening to catch the seven-ten train for
Glaston--leaves here about an hour by sun. Will you do me the favor to
hire a responsible party there to bring the mare back?... Can't spare
a man from here. Lost two of my dogs--yes, my fine, full-blooded
hounds--you remember Damon and Pythias? Strayed off from the pack, and
all hands and the cook have got to get out straightway and hunt them.
Wolves--awfully afraid they will get the hounds. Outnumber them and pull
them down--fierce at this season.... Yes, I hope so! You'll look out for
Fairy-foot?... Thanks, awfully.... Yes, _he_ would do--careful fellow!
Tell him to drive slowly coming back. Dean will race her down there at
the top of her speed. (Hush up, Frank, _I_ know what I am talking about.)
Mr. Dean will be there all right. Thank you very much. Do as much for you
some day. Goo'-by."

But Dean's protests were serious. His duties admitted of no trifling. He
wanted no such superfine commodity as Fairy-foot, but a horse stout and
sound he must have to-night and the favor of leaving his disabled steed
in Briscoe's stable. He explained that his misfortune in laming the horse
and the fog combined had separated him from the