s. Benton
produced two long strips of cloth, one of which she fastened about
each child's wrist, leaving its other end to tie to her own apron
belt.

Then she turned to the mother, whose tears were beginning to fall, and
said, severely:

"Gabriella, if I didn't love you as well as I love myself and better,
I'd let these children go and no more said. But they've done that no
punishin' won't reach, though maybe they'll give in after a spell. I
shan't hurt 'em nor touch to; but I shall keep 'em tied to me till
they tell me what I'm bound to know. So that's all. You've got enough
on your hands, with this funeral business and all that'll come, and
however we're goin' to feed another lot of visitors so soon after them
others, I declare I don't see. And me with these tackers tied to my
apron strings, the way they be!"

Mrs. Trent rose and left the room and Jessica slowly followed. Neither
of them could quite understand Aunt Sally's present behavior, nor why
she should wish to bother herself with two such hindrances to the
labor which must be accomplished.

But Ephraim lingered. He simply could not endure the sight of the
little ones' unhappiness, and quietly slipping a knife from his
pocket he coolly cut their leading strings, caught them up in his
strong arms and limped away before their captor had discovered her
loss.

But he put his head back inside the doorway to call out, reassuringly:

"Begging pardon, Mrs. Benton, I'll 'spell' you on the 'worming out'
business and promise they shan't leave my care till I hand 'em back to
you thoroughly 'pumped.' Come along, laddies. I've a mind to visit
every spot on this blessed ranch and--upon one condition--I've a mind
to take you with me. Want to hear?"

"Yes. What is it?" demanded Ned, already very happy at the exchange of
jailers.

"Only that you must explain what all this row and rumpus is about with
Aunt Sally."

Standing at the top of the steps, with one foot outstretched, old
"Forty-niner" paused and steadily regarded the small face above his
shoulder.

Ned returned the gaze with equal steadfastness, as if he were
pondering in his troubled mind the best course to pursue. Then,
because he might think more clearly so, he lifted his serious gaze to
the distance; and, at once, there burst from his quivering lips a cry
of fear:

"Oh, I see him! I see him! He's coming, like he said--to kill me--to
kill me! I dassent--I dassent!"

CHAPTER XIII.

NED'S STORY