There were no noisy demonstrations, but a grief, pathetic as it was deep. They were mountaineers, patient by nature, and schooled by all the circumstances of life to endure and be strong. The law does not punish the moonshiner alone, but it falls heavily on his wife and children. Silury dried her eyes and touched her mother on the shoulder, speaking in a firmer tone: "I must go down to Buckhorn Springs to-night, ma." "Eh?" said the dazed woman. "I must see pa; I must help him to get away from the raiders." "You, Silury! How’ll you do it?" "I don’t know," her lips trembling again, "but I must do it—I must!" Mrs. Cole stared at her. She had faith in Silury’s courage and ability, but now she caught the girl’s hand, fresh terror seizing her. "Don’t you get into trouble, honey. Me an’ the children would perish if your pa an’ you were both took off." "Don’t you fret, ma; I’ll come back to you an’ bring pa, too." "How’ll you get to Buckhorn Springs?" "Ride Kit." She was already down on her knees before the fire, kindling a torch to take out to the lot with her. She looked up at her mother with brave, tender eyes. "Now, don’t pester yerself any more’n you can help, ma." Mrs. Cole shook her head with a deep sigh, and instinctively reached for her pipe, but she could only sit and hold it in her hand, unfilled, unlighted, while Silury went away to the lot with the flaring torch and an old saddle thrown on her arm. Kit was a shabby beast, thin, wiry, and with only one good eye, but he had served the Coles faithfully. He greeted the young girl with a gentle whinny, and she leaned her head against him with another burst of tears. But she quickly wiped them away, and led Kit out to the road. It did not take her long to put bridle and saddle on him, then she ran in, took down her father’s rifle from the rack over the front door, and in a few minutes had started on her solitary ride down the mountains. The hound would have followed her, but she ordered him back. "Go back, Bolivar, an’ take care o’ them that’s left behind," and he slunk unwillingly to the doorstep again.