“I couldn't do that! I never could like anybody as I like you,” said. Leonidas gravely. There was such appalling truthfulness in the boy's voice and frankly opened eyes that the woman could not evade it, and was slightly disconcerted. But she presently started up with a vexatious cry. “There's that wretch following me again, I do believe,” she said, staring at the hilltop. “Yes! Look, Leon, he's turning to come down this trail. What's to be done? He mustn't see me here!” Leonidas looked. It was indeed Mr. Burroughs; but he was evidently only taking a short cut towards the Ridge, where his men were working. Leonidas had seen him take it before. But it was the principal trail on the steep hillside, and they must eventually meet. A man might evade it by scrambling through the brush to a lower and rougher trail; but a woman, never! But an idea had seized Leonidas. “I can stop him,” he said confidently to her. “You just lie low here behind that rock till I come back. He hasn't seen you yet.” She had barely time to draw back before Leonidas darted down the trail towards her husband. Yet, in her intense curiosity, she leaned out the next moment to watch him. He paused at last, not far from the approaching figure, and seemed to kneel down on the trail. What was he doing? Her husband was still slowly advancing. Suddenly he stopped. At the same moment she heard their two voices in excited parley, and then, to her amazement, she saw her husband scramble hurriedly down the trail to the lower level, and with an occasional backward glance, hasten away until he had passed beyond her view. She could scarcely realize her narrow escape when Leonidas stood by her side. “How did you do it?” she said eagerly. “With a rattler!” said the boy gravely. “With a what?” “A rattlesnake--pizen snake, you know.” “A rattlesnake?” she said, staring at Leonidas with a quick snatching away of her skirts. The boy, who seemed to have forgotten her in his other abstraction of adventure, now turned quickly, with devoted eyes and a reassuring smile. “Yes; but I wouldn't let him hurt you,” he said gently. “But what did you DO?” He looked at her curiously. “You won't be frightened if I show you?” he said doubtfully. “There's nothin' to be afeerd of s'long as you're with me,” he added proudly. “Yes--that is”--she stammered, and then, her curiosity getting the better of her fear, she added in a whisper: “Show me quick!”