“That remains for you to say, and not me, sir. I am only a defenceless woman, but it will be a sorry hour if you harm me.” With these spirited words, she stepped aside, allowing the officer and his followers to enter. A furious search followed, when the old house was ransacked from cellar to garret. Every corner and niche imaginable was searched, the sheriff sparing neither time nor the building, but, look where and how he would, he could find no trace of the fugitive. Finally, his dark features livid with rage, he joined ’Squire Hardy, giving expression to words unfit to repeat here. “He must have got word of our coming and run away,” declared the ’squire. “But, if so, we can and must find him, Stanyan.” “You can bet your bottom dollar I will find him if I have to move heaven and earth to do it,” replied the sheriff. “More than that, I will take the boy here with us, and if he doesn’t get a place to hang his hat for the next ten years I’ll resign my office.” Then the party prepared to drive away, with Little Hickory a prisoner among them. Seeing what was being done, Mrs. Bayne rushed out of the house, crying, in her despair: “Oh, sir! do not take my boy. He has done nothing but what is right. His father had rather----” “Stop, mother!” cried Little Hickory, sternly. “Say nothing you may repent of later. I go without resistance, and you must keep up good courage here until I get back.” ’Squire Hardy looked back with a mocking laugh at the weeping spectators they were leaving behind. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE SKELETON IN THE CELLAR. Mrs. Bayne was wild with grief, as she saw Rob taken away in this heartless way. “This is the worst blow yet,” she moaned. “Oh, why have they taken my boy--our support?” “And my poor Mary,” cried Mrs. Little. “And my boys, Tom and Jerry,” added Aunt Vinnie. It was a hopeless group, and Joe, the only one among them who could look bravely up, had all she could do to try and console them. “Let us hope for the best,” she said. “They cannot harm Rob. He has surely done no wrong.” “But we are so helpless,” said Mr. Little. “That infernal----” “Hush! Hush!” spoke up Joe. “You must be careful how you speak. We can only hope and wait.” “Oh, that Gideon should come home at this time and under such conditions as these!” moaned the distracted wife. “Don’t condemn him,” said Joe, courageously. “We know all the others are innocent, and we will think he is until we know differently.” “He says he is not guilty of this terrible thing. But what will become of us? We are so helpless!” “We must not give up,” said Joe. “I wonder what they will do with Rob? I’ve a mind to go to the village.” “Go, Joe. We can take care of ourselves.” “I think you had better,” assented Mr. Little. “How I wish that I was well again. It is so hard to suffer and do nothing when one is so needed.”