As my face touched the ground, and ere I could close my eyes, there struck upon my ear the far-off rhythmical beat of a horse’s hoofs at full gallop. Angry at being disturbed, I arose, but standing upright I could hear it no more. Relieved, I lay down again; but no sooner had my head touched the cool earth than the sound came to me once more, and now nearer and deeper than before. There could be no mistake this time, and rising to my feet, the steady pulse-beat of the galloping horse rose full and clear on the still air, saying as in words, "Coming, coming, coming!" Or some obstruction intervening, it would die away, calling back, as in sad adieu, "Going, going, going!" Then the obstruction cleared, or the ground hardening, it came again, clear and welcome as before, "Coming, coming, coming!" Thus I stood trembling and impatient, counting the hoof-beats as the horse came swiftly on. Surely this must be the man I sought; and so believing, I braced myself and waited. As the horse neared the spot where I stood half-hidden by the overhanging trees, it shied at sight of me, but the rider, keeping control with one hand, drew a pistol with the other, and would have fired had I not cried out: "Stop! stop! stop!" Bewildered, he hesitated, but distrustfully, calling in fierce anger: "Throw up your hands, and come into the light, or I will kill you!" Hastening to do as he said, and the moon striking my face as I stepped into the road, he lowered his pistol, crying out: "My God, Gilbert!" Recognizing Uncle Job’s voice, I answered, but hardly above a whisper, so overcome was I at seeing him. "Great heavens! what are you doing here?" he went on, springing from his horse; but I knew no more till I found myself lying in the road and he bending over me. "There, you are coming round; but, my God! how pale and wan you look, and how torn your face! Have you been ill, or what is the matter?" he asked, his voice choked and trembling. "No, I’m all right," I answered; and indeed the sight of him filled me with such happiness that my weariness left me ere I had finished speaking. "There! do not get up. Lie where you are, and when you are strong enough you can tell me how it happens that you are here and alone, and at this time of night," he replied, his face clouded with anxiety. "I ran away to escape Moth; but I’ve something else to tell you," I answered, remembering the tragedy at the cabin and Burke waiting beside the road, "and it’s about you," I went on, overcome by the recollection. "There is no hurry to tell it," he answered, tenderly. "We can stay here till morning for all the difference it will make; so calm yourself." "There is need, though, for Burke is waiting by the road to kill you," I answered, getting to my feet and striving to overcome my weakness. "What is that you say? Some one waiting to kill me?" he asked, peering into my face, as if he thought I had lost my senses.