"Our path passes jess to th' right o' th' village," whispered Ab Raggles, "an' we hev got to move moughty sly to slip by 'em. I don't s'pose yit'd be bes' fer 'em goslings o' Bird Burrnock to ketch eyes on me. Yit mought not be healthy fer somebuddy." Little Snap had noticed that as they neared the settlement Raggles had begun to show uneasiness, which increased as they advanced. He no longer carried his firearm in the hollow of his arm, but held it low upon his other side, as if wishing to conceal it from the gaze of any chance person they might meet. He realized that he could depend very little upon the Raggles in case of an attack from his enemies. Suddenly the sound of footsteps fell on their ears, when the older guide dropped to the ground as quickly as if he had been shot, his son imitating his example the next moment. Little Snap reined in Jack in season to avoid having him step on the prostrate figure of Ab Raggles, while at the same time the form of a man burst through the bushes into plain sight. "Hello!" exclaimed the stranger. "Who mought ye be who invades these peaceful regions?" "A friend," replied the postboy; "belated in my journey over the mountains." "Who in the name of darkness air ye who knows th' way?" and the speaker stepped nearer to get a better view of the boyish rider. It was too dark for him to distinguish Little Snap's features. At any rate, he did not seem to recognize him. "My name is Lewis, and I live beyond Daring's Diamond." "Purty late ridin'," muttered the man, passing on, without further words, much to our hero's relief. Little Snap resolved to get away from that vicinity as speedily as possible, and he turned to request Raggles to go on, when he was surprised to find the mountaineer missing! Neither was Beeline Raggles to be seen! As brief as had been his interview with the stranger, this pair had managed somehow to get away unobserved by him. He did not think it best to call to them, and, though at a loss to account for this singular conduct, he felt that it would make little difference to him. He had seen enough to know they would be of no real assistance in case he should meet the Burrnocks. Though it was now quite dark in the shades of the growth, he believed he would have little difficulty in finding his way to Hollow Tree, and he urged Jack forward without delay. Dim lights from the dwellings of the inhabitants of Blazed Acre were springing up on his left, and he hadn't gone far before a confused sound of voices was borne to him on the still air. "Faster, Jack!" he whispered, as the path swung around a clump of live oaks to come in full sight of the village. "On, my boy!" Breaking into a trot, the horse and his rider quickly gained the cover of the forest again, where it was difficult to follow the winding course of the path.