Part 11 (1/2)

CHAPTER IX

DANGER AHEAD

Coh the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon theirls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack

”The trees!” gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences soirls; they are our only chance”

Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved the thereat beasts darted into the open, fangs bared, snarling hideously Then----

Bang! Bang! Two sharp reports fro clear of the ground, then slunk into the underbrush, while the other staggered, fell, struggled to its feet, fell again, and after one convulsive irls stared, unable to follow this swift turn of events, there was the sound of running feet coures broke through into the cleared space

One was a little wizened ile The other was a girl, a splendid, big creature, who stood as tall as the man, and who, like him, carried a rifle

The two ran to the fallen ani excitedly, and turned it over to be sure it was dead They were so absorbed that they did not notice the girls, who dropped down quietly frouns carried by the newco effect upon them The wonderful sensation of relief that swept over them as they realized their almost miraculous escape, was so keen as to be almost pain

Still, they were not quite free fro beast, over which their rescuers were still bending It was the girl who first discovered the upon the girls a frank regard ”You was the ones this old boy was after, eh? Look, Dad,” she added, pointing to where the four horses were still bucking and snorting in fright ”There's the hosses we heard, but I reckon 'twas these gals the wolves was after”

”I guess you're right,” said Betty, trying to sh a shi+ver

”It wasn't very much fun while it lasted, either”

At this the old man, who had very kindly, keen blue eyes in his searound meditatively

”You don'tfroirls was out hyar all alone, without even a gun to protect yourselves with?”

”I guess ere” It was Mollie who spoke this time, and her tone was rueful ”We aren't used to this part of the world, you see, and so we didn't knohat a risky thing ere doing”

”They are most as bad as the Herirl, her eyes twinkling ”He goes about everywhere through the woods without a gun and only his violin for company; and, somehow or other, the beasts never molest him Some says he charms 'em with his violin, but I think it's just luck,” she added, with a wise shake of her head

The girls, whose curiosity had revived as their fears subsided, listened with interest to this rather long speech of the irl

”Has this--er--hererly, ”has he long curly hair and is he tall----”

”With stooped shoulders?” finished Airl looked a, as though to explain her surprise: ”He doesn't like to see people, you know, and folks round here don't know much about him 'cept that he plays the violin That's why they calls him the hermit, 'cause he lives alone an' hates everybody”

”All except Meggy, here,” interposed the old hter ”He likes her fust rate She says it's 'cause she takes his to eat But I know better”