“Well, it is this,” and she told him of the plan regarding Humphrey Muirhead. “Now, then, what I mean to do is to go and warn him. No, wait a minute; I don’t mean to say he doesn’t deserve it, and that he is not a hard, bad man, but then there is his poor little wife, who, I think, really loves him, and I want to spare her.” Carter considered the subject. “Yes, I think she ought to be spared, if possible,” he decided. “And so I am going to ask you to go there with me; it is not very far, once we are across the river, and we can easily walk it. You know the place is between Dod Hunter’s and where you live.” “I know well enough where it is.” “And you’ll go with me?” “Most certainly.” “We’ll have to give up our trip to the island, but we can go another time. I didn’t tell mother for I didn’t have a chance, and besides it is better that she should not know just yet. I knew I could trust you, Carter. I don’t believe any one else would have the same chivalric spirit.” Carter’s face beamed. “Well, you know where ladies are concerned--” “Of course that’s it; any one else would have said, ‘Don’t fash yersel’ aboot the women folk.’” Carter laughed. Agnes never spoke so broadly as the others in the neighborhood, for her mother did not, though of Scotch descent, but her imitation was perfect. He helped her into the boat and they rowed swiftly across stream. They immediately set out for the Muirhead place, and were not very long in reaching it. Mrs. Muirhead met them with her usual frightened manner, but she smiled shyly as she saw who it was. Yes, Hump was over in the far clearing; he had Honey with him; she’d send one of the children after him. Agnes looked at Carter. “I think maybe we’d better go and find him. We’ll come back this way, Mrs. Muirhead.” They followed her directions, and found Humphrey busy at work digging out the stumps from a bit of ground, Honey established near him and chattering away in his baby fashion. Agnes walked straight up to her uncle. “You didn’t expect to see me, Mr. Muirhead, I know,” she began. He turned a scornful look upon her. “And what do you want?” he growled. “I want to tell you that I have come into possession of a piece of information which directly concerns you, and that I have come to warn you. A number of men are coming here to-night to tar and feather you and ride you on a rail out of the settlement, and if they do not find you to-night, it will be some other night; they are in earnest, and there are too many of them for you to defy.” “And you’re here to tell me this so that I can git out?” He laughed mockingly. “That’s a fine scheme of yours, but it won’t work.” “But it is true.” Agnes was discouraged by this way of treating her facts. “So _you_ say. I’ve had folks try to skeer me before, but it don’t do. Here I stop and there’s nobody can budge me.” “Ah, but--oh, tell him Carter.”