At the point where he had seen Jud running, RoBards jerked the bridle and, setting the horse to the low stone wall, lifted him over before he had time to refuse. Up the hill RoBards kept him on the run. He caught sight of Jud Lasher as Jud Lasher caught sight of him. Only a little way the fugitive went before he flung Immy down like a bundle, and darted into a chaos of rocks and thistles and of tall sycamores holding out naked branches livid with leprous white patches. RoBards did not pause by Immy’s side but rode on, his heels beating a tattoo on the horse’s ribs. Jud Lasher was mad with fright, but terror made him as agile as a weasel. He slipped easily through mazes that the horse must blunder over or around. RoBards was so intent upon him that he did not see a heavy sycamore bough thrust right across his path until it swept him from the saddle. But he kept clutch on the reins, dragged the horse’s head round and brought him to earth. RoBards was up and in the saddle before the horse could rise. He charged on up the hill and overtaking Jud Lasher in a clearing, rode him down. The youth fell begging for mercy, but when the horse swerved to avoid him RoBards lifted his head so sharply that he went up beating the air with his forehoofs. Then he came down with them upon the prostrate body like a great two-tined pitchfork. Keith who had stood watching his father’s pursuit from a long distance hid his head in his arm. Immy watching from where she lay, covered her eyes with her hands. They saw their father slip from the saddle and disappear behind a shelving boulder. There was a brief hubbub, then silence. After a long time of awful emptiness, their father came down the hillside leading the horse. He went to Immy and lifted her in his arms, and kissing her, mumbling: “Did he scare you?” She nodded, almost more afraid of her father than of Jud. “He won’t scare you again. He’s gone now.” “Far?” “Far.” “I’m glad! I was hiding behind the big rose bush and he grabbed me like a big bear would; and he runned off with me. I’m glad he’s gone.” She laughed, but her father set his palm across her mouth quickly and hugged her to his heart so hard that she cried out. He made her promise that she would say nothing also of this and when she asked him why Jud wouldn’t let her alone, he said: “He will now. But if you tell anybody he will come back for you.” He scanned the landscape, but nobody was to be seen except little Keith waiting in a daze. He took the two children into the house and once more solemnly pledged them never to mention the name of Jud Lasher, or the efforts he had made to steal Immy. When supper time came RoBards waited on the two children, but did not eat. He put them early to bed, and heard their prayers, and waited till he was assured they were sound asleep. They felt his kisses upon their brows as they sank away into oblivion. CHAPTER XXI