The strong, young voices filled the cave with strange echoes which penetrated into the night. The singers caught the spirit of the song as they went on and on. All their fears for the morrow had vanished. The dumb creatures looked around at them in astonishment. Miss Howard was keeping her eyes on the entrance as she sang. Over the animals’ heads she could see a light coming along the passageway. It grew brighter and brighter as it neared the cave opening. Her charges did not see it; Martin was singing with closed eyes, and the two girls were watching Abner pile fresh sticks upon the fire. She knew how superstitious were the mountain people, especially the lawless ones who were fugitives from justice because of their propensity for appropriating their neighbours’ horses and cattle. Was it possible that after all her little party was to be molested? As the last note died away, a man’s head, covered with a coonskin cap, was thrust inside and then as suddenly withdrawn. “Come on, Joe, Gid, here they are safe and sound!” shouted a bluff voice, and the Bradshaws—father and sons—hurried into the cave. With delighted shouts the wayfarers gathered around them. “We’ve been beatin’ ’bout these here mountings sence nine o’clock,” said the older man, “and we war jest ready ter give up when we heard the singin’. Hit war powerful deceivin’ at first—a-comin’ up out’n the ground that-away, till I ’lowed you war nowhar but in that old still cave.” “Then it was the light from your lanterns I saw when the young people were gathering the firewood. Didn’t you see my torch?” Joe Bradshaw laughed while his father and brother looked sheepish. “Yes, we did see it, but Pappy and Gid ’lowed it was a harnt. At first it looked like a fire from where we were, and then it disappeared so suddenly it really was mystifying.” “’Twas the singin’ thet fetched us,” persisted the elder Bradshaw. “We’d been expectin’ you sence before sundown, and when hit went on nine o’clock and war dark and snowy I ’lowed you war lost and we jest set out ter sarch. Thar war a passel o’ hoss thieves in these parts a leetle spell back, and we ’lowed, too, thet mebbe they’d got a holt of your beastes and left you ter foot hit. Thet’s the reason we didn’t sarch here fust thing. This has been the place ter find sech as them, and we warn’t nowise anxious ter make their ’quaintance.” “Gid has some corn in the saddlebags for the beastes,” said Joe, “and I have something for your supper that mother sent. You must be nearly starved.” But Talitha agreed with her teacher that it would be better to wait until morning and have a hearty meal before continuing their journey. Relieved of the necessity for watchfulness, Miss Howard was soon asleep. After talking a little longer her charges followed suit while the Bradshaws kept careful guard.