Then quickly realizing that the cavalcade was coming not from the direction of the hill country, but the town, and that the night was yet too young for raiders to be abroad, she understood that it was merely a drunken crowd on their homeward way, therefore she hurried out and raised the pole, then fled into the house and blew out the light, as the horsemen went dashing by, in a volley of shouts and oaths, like a miniature whirlwind. Just as the clock was striking nine, and when her mother had once more fallen asleep after her recent rude awakening, the girl's attentive ear caught the sound of a horse's familiar tread, and tiptoeing lightly out on the platform, she softly closed the door behind her and awaited the rider. She was not at fault in her surmise, for the horseman was the one she had hoped to see, and at her low summons he rode close up to the platform where she stood, all impatient to divulge her message. "I thought you'd never come, or else that you had already passed the gate without me seeing you!" cried Sally in an eager undertone when he drew rein. "I would certainly have started earlier if I'd known you were waiting," answered the rider contritely. "Did you know we are expecting the raiders to pay us a visit tonight?" she asked hurriedly, coming at once to the point. "Pay this gate a visit?" queried Milt in genuine surprise that proved her words news to him. "Yes." "Are you quite sure about that?" he asked thoughtfully, "How do you know it's to be this gate?" "The Squire came by on his way to town only a little while ago, and told mother. He's gone now to raise a posse of men to guard the gate." "Here's trickery," thought Milt. "I was led to believe it was to be some other gate for tonight's raid, or else I've got things badly mixed. The Squire said it was this gate?" he added aloud. "That's what he told mother. I didn't see him. You mustn't ever tell that I told you, never!" she insisted. "I never will," he declared fervently. "And how did the Squire know about it?" he added thoughtfully. "I don't know, likely from the man who is acting the spy for him." "I wonder who that man can be?" "I don't know, but the Squire's got somebody in his pay who is not only spying on the raiders but on you also. He's acting a double part." "And you say the gate is to be guarded tonight?" "Yes, the guards will be here soon." "Well, perhaps that may scare the raiders away," said the young man reassuringly. "I'm awful glad you told me about it." "I thought you ought to know," said Sally in a low tone, "for perhaps you have friends that might be interested in such news." "This gate shall never be molested as long as I can do anything to prevent it," said Milton Derr earnestly, bending sideways until his arm encircled the waist of the pretty toll-taker on the platform; "and if it ever is, you can understand that I am powerless to save it. Good night, sweetheart!" CHAPTER XII.