"But what does it mean?" broke in Miss Campbell. "I don't like the sound of it at all. Why has the doctor sent for both of you boys? Why should we be left alone? It's not like the doctor at all." "They ain't got to go no distance much, lady," the boy assured her. "They'll be back inside of fifteen minutes," and being the prince of liars and an actor of precocious ability, he succeeded in persuading them that Ben and Percy must follow him without delay. The girls were still gathering up the rugs and cushions preparatory to going into the house, when there came another interruption that frightened Miss Campbell so much that she gave a little cry and seized Billie's arm. "It's only old Granny, the herb-woman," Billie assured her. "What is it, Granny?" "Phoebe! They gona' tar and feather Phoebe an' her father if they can find him. Go, quick. Lupo an' his men comin' up mountain. Hurry and shut house." "But I don't want to bring this danger on my friends," exclaimed Phoebe. "I will go with you, Granny." "No, no, too dangerous," answered the old woman. "Lupo, he see in dark." "Indeed, you shall not go," broke in Miss Campbell indignantly. "You'll stay right here and they shall not tar and feather you or anybody else. The low wretches!" "Shut up house, quick," was Granny's last piece of advice as she melted away in the darkness. Nobody paused to beat down the camp fire or gather up the rugs and cushions. Into the house they scurried and lost no time in drawing the great iron-bound winter doors across the openings into the living room, and bolting them. The doors to the sleeping porches were all carefully closed and locked from the inside. Then they sat down in the immense vaulted room and waited. Phoebe, sitting apart from the others, seemed very quiet and calm in the face of the danger which threatened her, and Billie knew she was calling on the faith which had never failed her. CHAPTER XVI. THE ATTACK. They were filled with hot indignation over the situation. They felt sure now that Ben and Percy had been lured away, but they were not uneasy for their safety. Billie had told them what Dr. Hume had said: that the mountaineers would not dare injure any of the campers. But all of them realized that Phoebe might be treated with cruel indignities. Only a few weeks before, Billie had read an account in a newspaper of how a pretty young school teacher had been tarred and feathered by a mob of people who were jealous of her beauty and refinement. If Lupo could persuade the villagers that Phoebe and her father were responsible for the forest fires, Billie felt certain they would have a very unreasonable lot of visitors to deal with that night. She wished with all her heart that someone with an eloquent tongue would appear and address these narrow, stupid men, someone who understood their natures and knew how to deal with them. She believed that violence would only aggravate their rage. Someone would have to talk to them.