"I'm goin' straight home," declared Sally, "an' keep a sharp look-out at the gate. Mr. Pepper said Milt might come back by way of town. I can trump up some excuse to mother about not staying all night with you, as I intended. If Milt comes back to Mr. Pepper's you'll get to see an' warn him, an' if he comes by the gate--I'll get to do it. That's all we can do." "Suppose we both fail?" "Then I'll go to the old quarry tonight," answered Sally. "No!" cried her companion aghast. "Indeed, I will," insisted Sally, coolly, "I'll not only go, but I'll see that Milt's not convicted on the false words of those two lying villains." "You're really not in earnest, Sally Brown!" cried Sophronia, half in astonishment, half in admiration at the daring announcement. "But I am, I mean every word of it." The girl had inherited from her forbears a touch of that intrepid spirit that prevailed amid the hills. "I wouldn't go for worlds!" cried Sophronia shuddering. "I guess you would, if it was _your_ sweetheart that was in danger." "I don't believe I could go, even then," admitted Sophronia. "They'll kill you!" she declared in growing terror. "Not when I tell them I sent a warning to the band by Milt, and point out the very man that did betray them." "But remember, the leader of the night-raiders is Jade Beddow. He will surely do you an' Milt all the injury he can. Oh, Sally, don't think of running such a risk! Let's find Billy West an' ask him to go." [Illustration: "YOU'RE REALLY NOT IN EARNEST, SALLY BROWN!"] "It wouldn't be as safe as for me to go," demurred Sally. "I'm not afraid. They're not goin' to hurt me. Let me have your father's pistol when we get back. I'll take it along, an' use it, too, if there's need." As the two girls excitedly discussed the situation, Sally decided that she would not go back home as she had first intended. There were too many chances of missing her sweetheart by so doing. Besides, if the two girls separated, Sally would not know whether her friend had seen Milt or not. This was a point they had both overlooked. It was agreed, then, that the safer plan would be for Sally to remain at Mr. Saunders' until late bedtime, then, if Milt had not come, she would manage, with Sophronia's help, to slip quietly out of the house, saddle Joe and go direct to the old abandoned quarry where the farce of a trial would be held. When bedtime came, and no sign of Derr, the two girls succeeded in slipping out of the house without detection, when they quickly saddled the patient Joe, and later parted in the darkness, Sophronia still urging her companion to think once again before starting forth on so perilous a journey.