"There," said he, "is the place for us. These fellows seem to be on the march. They will soon pass by this and be gone. Let us hide in the old mill." Talbot at once assented. They then left the road and crossed the fields. In a short time they reached the mill. It was deserted, and the machinery was out of order, but otherwise it was in good preservation. The door was open, and they entered. Having once obtained this concealment, they stood in the door-way anxiously watching. At length they saw a crowd of men come up along the road, and these they regarded with quick-beating hearts. "Brooke," said Talbot, in a whisper. "What?" "What shall we do if they come here?" "That's a solemn question," said Brooke. "We ought to have something to fall back on. Wait." He went away for a few minutes, and then returned. As he came back to the door Talbot pressed his arm and pointed. Brooke looked out. To his horror the whole band had stopped, and some of them were facing toward the mill as though about to approach it. "What a mistake we've made!" said Brooke. "They're coming here!" said Talbot, in a thrilling whisper. "What can we do? Can we fly?" "No," said Brooke; "they'll see us. We have only one hope. There's a ladder here, and we can climb up into the loft. Come." Taking Talbot's hand, Brooke led her to the ladder, and they climbed up into the loft, where they sat listening. Talbot's anticipation was too true. The band approached the mill, and soon the two fugitives heard them all around. CHAPTER XIII. BROOKE AND TALBOT MAKE SEVERAL NEW ACQUAINTANCES. For some time the two fugitives remained motionless and listened. There seemed to be a large number of men below, of whom a few were inside the mill, but the greater part remained outside. These kept up an incessant jabber; but it was of a discordant character, some talking about getting ready a supper, some about making a fire, some about forage, while at times a word would be dropped which seemed to indicate that they were in pursuit of fugitives. Nothing more definite than this could be learned. Brooke, however, had been gradually creeping to one side of the mill, where there was a window, while Talbot followed as noiselessly as possible, until they both were able from their concealment to look out upon the scene below, which was in no way calculated to reassure them. They saw a crowd of men, about a hundred in number, who looked very much to Brooke like the train-stoppers of the day before. Their arms were piled, and they themselves were dispersed about, engaged in various occupations; some eating, some drinking, some smoking, while from them all a confused hubbub arose. Half a dozen ill-looking fellows came toward the door of the mill. "A fire!" said one. "Let's burn down the old mill. There's wood enough in it." "Ay," said another, "wood enough for a hundred fires."