But Little Hickory had too clear a head and too steady a nerve to fall in any such manner. It is true, he was not an experienced bicyclist, but what he lacked in experience he more than made up in fearless foresight and swiftness of action. Never for an instant “losing his head,” he guided the wheel down the descent, around loose stones and bowlders, along the very rim of gullies, down, faster and faster, until he fairly flew into the valley, and carried on by the fearful momentum he had gained, sped up the ascent on the opposite side. By that time the amazed men awakened to the fact that their bird was fast leaving them, and with oaths of madness they rushed down the hill in pursuit. It would be of no avail to fire shots now, as Little Hickory was beyond the range of their weapons. By the time they had gained the foot of “Flying Jump” he was out of sight, having nearly gained the summit on the east, carried up half the rise on his bicycle, when he sprang lightly to the ground and continued his flight on foot. “Curse him!” cried the leader of the masked men, “he’ll get away from us. He must not.” “He’s good’s done it, ’cording to my figuring,” replied a panting companion. “Great Scott! how he winged it down the----” “Fool! if you and Jed hadn’t been sich blunderers, he’d been our game now.” “Don’t be too sure on thet, old man. He’s a whirlwind, he is, and no man would a stopped him once he got started.” Little Hickory kept on home without seeing or hearing anything more of his enemies, and what became of them was likely to remain unknown. He did not think it wise to speak of his adventure at home, as he knew it would only make those at the old house uneasy and afraid to remain there while he and Larry were away. So he greeted his mother with his usual light-heartedness, though it was many days before he fully recovered from the thrilling experience of coasting “Flying Jump.” On the morning of the Fourth of July, it being a holiday, he resolved to take his first “day off” since coming to Break o’ Day, and though he had no new suit to wear, as was the case with Larry, he brushed up his old clothes, put on a new pair of pants, which he had been obliged to buy, and started on foot. It had been his wish that Joe should go with him, but she declared that she could not think of that, as she had positively “nothing fit to wear.” Besides, she was needed at home. Thus we find Rob at Gainsboro, and no one was more surprised than he at the declaration of Job Westcott to his friend Larry. At this juncture one of the committee came hurriedly to the spot, saying: “Are you the young man who is to take the place of Mr. Snyder, who was to speak here to-day? If so, come right along, for the people are tired of waiting. It’s strange Snyder could not have notified us of this arrangement before.”