is life!"

Rover barked gleefully while Jack put a tin platter on the floor and
placed the food into it, and they ate in silence.

After the meal was over Jack went out to sit awhile on his little porch,
while Rover dropped down at his feet. They had not been comfortably
seated very long when Rover rose to a sitting position and looked in the
direction of his home. Wade knew from his anxious look that he had heard
something. In another second the long, loud blast from Nora's horn came
trembling through the night air and reached their ears.

"What's that for, old dog?" Jack spoke to Rover. Then the sound came
again, and Rover bolted off without further ceremony.

Wade arose and stood for a moment listening. It was peculiar that the
dog should be called at night unless he was badly needed. As he
listened, Wade heard two distinct rifle shots coming from the direction
of Peter Judson's home. "Something up," he said, gathering his own rifle
and starting out, meaning to go up and learn what the trouble could be.
Instead of taking the road, Wade went out through his own pasture and
through Judson's field. The old man had taught him caution, and he knew
how to use it. He went on as hurriedly as possible until he reached
Judson's horse-lot, then he began to peer about. He could see Peter
moving about in front of the light at the house, but nothing strange
appeared to be taking place. Then he saw old Peter come to the door and
look eagerly toward the road.

"What's the trouble?" asked Wade, from behind.

"I thought that'd bring ye, Jack," said Peter, turning quickly, "and ye
fooled me, too. Ye air gittin' 'long all right, now, boy. Well, they's
a-goin' ter be so much fun ter-night that hit jest looked like I
couldn't help axin' ye fer ther fust time ter jine us. Ye see, Tom
a-bein' a little sore, hit'll make ther road seem a little lonely to me,
an' ef ye want ter see ther fun ye kin take Tom's big black an' come
'long with me. Have yer got yer little shootin' irons 'long?"

"Nothing save my rifle," said Jack wonderingly.

"Well, ye kin use Tom's, an' they air as good as ye kin find in this
kintry. Ye hain't a-feered, air ye?"

"I fear nothing," said Wade; "but I'd like to know what's up. I don't
want to run into anything that won't be good for me."

"Go with him, Jack," said Nora. "You'll see the fun, sure."

"Yes," said Peter. "Ther hosses air ready, an' I'll tell ye all 'bout it
while we go 'long. We have ter trave