Greeting Clendenin with a glad, "Hello!" they hastily dismounted, secured their horses, and joined him, producing from their saddle-bags such store of choice provisions as made Zeb's eyes dance with delight, for the lad was in his way quite an epicure. The sight of the goodly array of weapons of defence, and stout arms to wield them, gave him scarcely less pleasure, for Zeb's courage was not always at fever heat. "Golly, massa doctah!" he exclaimed, showing a double row of white and even teeth, "I 'spec's we needn't be 'fraid no robbahs now. Gib um jessie ef dey comes roun' us." "Best not to be too jubilant, Zeb," said his master; "you and I may have to fall behind because of Romeo's lameness." "No, no, never fear," said the others, "we are not going to forsake you, doc, now that we have joined company." They did not linger long over their meal and were soon in the saddle again, riding sometimes two abreast, at others in single file, but always near enough for exchange of talk. Kenneth bore his own burden bravely, was quite his usual cheerful, genial self, and no one suspected what a load of sorrow and anxiety was pressing upon him. They journeyed on without mishap or adventure, and late in the afternoon came to a two story log dwelling standing a little back from the road, or rather trail, for it was nothing more. There was nothing attractive about the aspect of the house or its surroundings, but the sun was near his setting, the next human habitation was in all probability ten or fifteen miles further on, and the way to it lay through a dense forest where, doubtless, panthers, bears and wolves abounded. A moment's consultation led to the decision that they would pass the night here if they could get lodging in the house. An elderly woman of slatternly appearance, hair unkempt, clothing torn and soiled, had come to the door. "What's wanted?" she asked in a harsh voice. "Shelter for the night for men and beasts," returned Clendenin, who had been unanimously chosen leader of the party. "Well, I dunno 'bout it, I haven't no man about, but if ye'll 'tend to yer beasts yerselves, yer can stay." They agreed to the conditions. She pointed out the stable, and they led their horses thither, curried and fed them, remarking to each other, meanwhile, that they did not like the woman's looks; she had a bad countenance. She had gone back into the house, and as she moved here and there about her work, muttered discontentedly to herself, "There's too many o' 'em. Bill, he won't like it. But I wonder if the right one's among 'em. Wish I knowed." Hearing their voices outside again, she stepped to the door. "Ye'll be a wantin' supper, won't ye?" "Yes, let us have it as soon as you can, for we're tired and hungry." "She mout put some pizen in de wittles, massa doctah, don't you tink?" whispered Zeb, close at Kenneth's ear, and shuddering as he spoke. "If you think so, it might be as well to watch her," was the quiet half-amused answer.