irection in which
he pointed.

"Take the horse," said Stackridge to Penn, "and lead him up through that
gap out of the reach of the bullets. We'll stay and give these rascals a
lesson. Go along with him, Carl, if you don't want to fight your
friends."

There were not guns enough for all; and Grudd had Stackridge's revolver.
There was nothing better, then, for Penn and Carl to do than to consent
to this arrangement.

Penn went before, leading the horse up the dry bed of a brook. Carl
followed, urging the animal from behind. Mr. Villars rode with the
baggage, which had been lashed to the saddle. Only the clashing of the
iron hoofs on the stones broke the stillness of the morning in that
mountain solitude. Stackridge and his compatriots had suddenly become
invisible, crouching among bushes and behind rocks.

The retreat of Penn and his companions was discovered by the pursuing
party, who mistook it for a general flight of the fugitives. They rushed
forward with a shout. They had a rugged and barren hill to ascend. Half
way up the slope they saw flashes of fire burst from the rocks above,
heard the rapid "crack--crackle--crack!" of a dozen pieces, and
retreated in confusion down the hill again.

Stackridge and his companions coolly proceeded to reload their guns.

"They didn't know we had arms," said the farmer, with a grim smile.
"They'll be more cautious now."

"We've done for two or three of 'em!" said Captain Grudd. "There they
lie; one is crawling off."

"Let him crawl!" said Stackridge. "Sorry to kill any of 'em; but it's
about time for 'em to know we're in 'arnest."

"They've gone to cover in the laurels," said Grudd. "Let's shift our
ground, and watch their movements."

Penn and Carl in the mean time made haste to get the horse and his
burden beyond the reach of bullets. They toiled up the bed of the brook
until it was no longer passable. Huge bowlders lay jammed and crowded in
clefts of the mountain before them. Penn remembered the spot. He had
been there in spring, when down over the rocks, now covered with lichens
and dry scum, poured an impetuous torrent.

"Now I know where I am," he said. "I don't believe it is possible to get
the horse any farther. We will wait here for our friends. Mr. Villars,
if you will dismount, we will try to get you up on the bank."

"I pity you, my children," said the old man. "You should never have
encumbered yourselves with such a burden as I am. I can neither fight
n