The postboy took the proffered missive, and he and Mr. Goings were about to ride on, when the hermit suddenly stepped in front of the latter, saying: "Who is this who rides with you to-day Postboy of the Kanawha?" CHAPTER XXXII. THE NEWS THAT REACHED HOME. "A friend, old man. Stand aside and let me pass," said Austin Goings, quickly. "Does he speak the truth, boy?" demanded Old Solitaire, catching hold of the rein of the stranger's horse. "Indeed, uncle, I do not know," admitted Little Snap, frankly, surprised nearly as much as his companion at this interference. "He asked my company this morning, and we rode to Salt Works together. He has appeared friendly." "You do wrong to trust any man at this time. Stranger, you will tarry with me while the boy rides on." An exclamation of displeasure left Austin Goings' lips, and he struck his horse smartly, intending to break the animal from the old man's grasp. But the hermit's hold proved stronger than might have been expected, for the struggling horse failed to clear itself from the hand laid on its bit. "Let go that rein, old man!" cried the aroused rider, "or I shall forget your years and lay violent hands on you." "Ride on, Dix!" ordered Old Solitaire. "I will look after this man." Fearing that the opposition might end in more serious trouble, the postboy hesitated. If the two men should come to blows, he felt certain this Austin Goings would handle the old hermit roughly. "I do not think he means me any harm, uncle. I will look out for myself." "He has no business here with you," said the hermit. "Man, if you are honest, go back the way whence you have come." "Who are you who dares to interfere with my conduct?" demanded the other, sharply. "Were I to tell you, you would still be as ignorant as I am concerning your identity. Let the boy go on in peace. When he has been gone ten minutes you shall follow if you wish." Austin Goings looked from the speaker to the astonished postboy, and then back to the old hermit, the squirrels all the while keeping up a continuous chattering, as they ran excitedly to and fro. Finally he said: "It may be best to humor the old man, Dix Lewis; so ride on, and I will abide his pleasure. I will not harm him, neither shall he me." Little Snap was impatient to go on, and though not without some misgivings, he resumed his tedious journey toward Kanawha Narrows. Looking back as he turned an angle in the road, the last that he saw of the singular twain they had not moved. Old Solitaire was still holding the stranger's horse by the bit, while the horseman was gazing intently at him. "It all beats me!" thought Little Snap. "I don't see as I can do any better than to keep on. I think Old Solitaire is able to take care of himself. At any rate, Tom, you and I have evidently all we can look after."