Then she arose with sudden fortitude and cried: "Why, there isn't anybody there! I know there isn't." She marched down into the kitchen. In her face was dread, as if she half expected to confront something, but the room was empty. She cried joyously: "There's nobody here! Come on down, ma." She ran to the kitchen door and locked it. The mother came down to the kitchen. "Oh, dear, what a fright I've had! It's given me the sick headache. I know it has." "Oh, ma," said the girl. "I know it has--I know it. Oh, if your father was only here! He'd settle those Yankees mighty quick--he'd settle 'em! Two poor helpless women----" "Why, ma, what makes you act so? The Yankees haven't----" "Oh, they'll be back--they'll be back. Two poor helpless women! Your father and your uncle Asa and Bill off galavanting around and fighting when they ought to be protecting their home! That's the kind of men they are. Didn't I say to your father just before he left----" "Ma," said the girl, coming suddenly from the window, "the barn door is open. I wonder if they took old Santo?" "Oh, of course they have--of course----Mary, I don't see what we are going to do--I don't see what we are going to do." The girl said, "Ma, I'm going to see if they took old Santo." "Mary," cried the mother, "don't you dare!" "But think of poor old Sant, ma." "Never you mind old Santo. We're lucky to be safe ourselves, I tell you. Never mind old Santo. Don't you dare to go out there, Mary--Mary!" The girl had unlocked the door and stepped out upon the porch. The mother cried in despair, "Mary!" "Why, there isn't anybody out here," the girl called in response. She stood for a moment with a curious smile upon her face as of gleeful satisfaction at her daring. The breeze was waving the boughs of the apple trees. A rooster with an air importantly courteous was conducting three hens upon a foraging tour. On the hillside at the rear of the gray old barn the red leaves of a creeper flamed amid the summer foliage. High in the sky clouds rolled toward the north. The girl swung impulsively from the little stoop and ran toward the barn. The great door was open, and the carved peg which usually performed the office of a catch lay on the ground. The girl could not see into the barn because of the heavy shadows. She paused in a listening attitude and heard a horse munching placidly. She gave a cry of delight and sprang across the threshold. Then she suddenly shrank back and gasped. She had confronted three men in gray seated upon the floor with their legs stretched out and their backs against Santo's manger. Their dust-covered countenances were expanded in grins. II. As Mary sprang backward and screamed, one of the calm men in gray, still grinning, announced, "I knowed you'd holler." Sitting there comfortably the three surveyed her with amusement. Mary caught her breath, throwing her hand up to her throat. "Oh!" she said, "you--you frightened me!"