The mare was gentle, and quite accustomed to Jaquelina. She saddled her with deft, skillful fingers, led her out, and vaulted lightly to her back. Then in the dim light of the waning moon, the girl rode out of the stable-yard, and set forth at a swift gallop for the town a mile away. There was something weird and strange in that midnight ride through the lonely wood to Jaquelina. Her heart beat fast as she guided the mare through the thick woods where the tall pines stood around dark and grim like silent sentinels. The moon had gone down, and she had only the faint light of the stars to guide her on her perilous way. Every moment she expected to be confronted by the outlaw band, of whom she had heard such terrible stories. A foreboding dread lent her fresh impetuosity. Black Bess was panting and covered with perspiration, when her rider at length emerged safely from the woods and found herself on the outskirts of the town. A few minutes brought her to the physician's neat residence. Her loud halloo soon brought him to the window. He promised to dress and come to the baby's assistance immediately. "If you will wait a few minutes, Miss Meredith, I will ride back with you. The road at night is lonely and dangerous for a woman," the old doctor said, courteously. But having come over the road safely, Jaquelina's courage had risen. "Aunt Meredith will, perhaps, need my assistance with the child," she said, "so I had better ride on at once. I do not think there can be any danger, but if you ride fast enough to overtake me, I shall be very glad of your company." She turned as she spoke and galloped away. A sudden storm was rising. A cool wind blew into her face, and for a second the face of the heavens was divided by a keen flash of lightning that glittered steely blue, like a sword point, against the darkness. Two or three drops of rain swirled down on the uncovered head and face. "It was fortunate I did not wait," she thought, "I shall barely escape the storm if I do my best." She urged Black Bess to her highest speed. The wind increased. It blew Jaquelina's short, soft curls into her face, and across her eyes. The strong, sweet breath of the pines mixed refreshingly with "the scent of violets hidden in the green." Jaquelina never forgot that hour. It came back to her in after years--dark years, when memory was a nameless pain. "The smell of violets hidden in the green, Poured back into my fainting soul and frame The times when I remember to have been Joyful and free from blame." * * * * * She had reached the thickest part of the woods in safety when suddenly Black Bess came to such a sudden stop that her rider came near being thrown over her head. In the next moment a vivid flash of lightning showed Jaquelina a tall, masked outlaw clutching her bridle rein. CHAPTER IV.