Early the next morning, their equipment having already been packed, they bade good-bye to the Thompsons. Julie cried a little, and the sick children clung to Grace and Elfreda as if they could not let them go. Before leaving, Nora slipped some money into Julie's hand. "This is for new clothes and shoes for yourself, the children and your mother," she whispered. "My Hippy wished me to give it to you." Giving Julie an impulsive kiss, Nora ran out without giving the mountain girl opportunity to recover from her surprise, and, after Julie had recovered, her amazement at the amount of money held in her hand left her altogether speechless until the Overland Riders had jogged away and were out of sight. They were short on equipment and provisions, but knew that they could replenish their supplies at the general store at Hall's Corners. Although they might have made the journey in two days' hard riding, it was decided to make camp early in the afternoon and rest up and enjoy the scenery, and on the following day camp about five miles from their destination, going on to Hall's Corners on the third day. After their idleness at Thompson's all hands were thoroughly enjoying being back in the saddle, and even Emma was enjoying herself so keenly that she forgot to be petulant or to "con-centrate" on anything at all. In the two days' ride, which they made without incident, meeting very few persons, and not being annoyed by any one, they had come to hope that they had left the troubled area of the mountains behind them and that only peaceful scenes lay before them. Hippy, however, still insisted that he was a marked man. It was some time after the evening meal of the second day when they heard a horse galloping along the wagon trail that they had followed ever since leaving the Thompson place. Hippy held up a hand for silence, and the Overlanders sat listening intently. "Some one is in an awful hurry," observed Emma. "Going for a doctor, perhaps," suggested Hippy. "That's the way I rode when I went after old Doc Weatherby." "Only one rider," announced Grace. "Otherwise we might have reason to feel disturbed." The horse suddenly slowed down, its rider probably attracted by the light of the campfire. "Hulloa the camp!" shouted a voice. "A woman!" exclaimed Nora. "Hulloa! Come on in so we can see who you are," called Emma. "Howdy," answered the rider, picking her way towards them from the trail. "Julie!" cried the Overlanders, as Julie Thompson rode into the flickering light of the campfire. "What is the matter? Has something gone wrong, Julie?" begged Grace, running forward, her companions following close at her heels. "Ah reckons somethin' is goin' t' right smart," answered the girl, slowly dismounting. Washington was summoned to take her horse, with directions to water and groom it, for the animal was wet with sweat. "See here! Where did you come from to-day?" demanded Hippy.