CHAPTER I. two to one. •Halt! ,

The itarb'C paused involuntarily, and fell back upon his haunches. His rider sab erect and defiant, a flush of anger visible on his handsome face, even in the darkness of the wooded road. He bib his lip savagely j and then demanded, sternly, a flash in his eyes like a danger signal :

' What do you want, sirs ? How dara you stop a traveller like this ?' Two men held the bridle close to the horse's mouth. They he'd, also, each a re volver, set in a deadly aim upon the man eying them so fiercely, though he knew as ■well as they that ho wa3 at their mercy. His rifle, revolver and hunting-knife were comfortably packed at the bottom of his trunk, and his trunk was sbill at the station in the village he had iei'c. He bad no means of defence ; ho was not fool enough to attempt a hand-to-hand struggle with those ugly weapons in such close proximity ; he wae not coward enough to plead for his life, and he cursed himself inwardly for having been such an idiot as to ride that road lib that hour without a weapon of gome 3orb. One of the men laughed at this speech of his. Both wore half-masks on their faces, and were powerfully built ; they were evi dently used to a rough life ; they would doubtless think bufc twico of murdering him, should there bo need. ' (Jome, cap'n !' this man said shortly; * you may's well do as we tell you. We're used to boing obeyed ! It's dark enough in all conscience. If you was fool enough bo come along this road 'thoub baing prepared for us, we can't help ib ! Mobby, bco,ib'a as well you ain't, for two to one is pretty certain to win. Give up your reins, now. Oh, you may's well do it !' a scornful enorb breaking his speech as he jerked the rein to loosen the rider's hold. ' I'll lead you safe enough, and my comrade '11 sce'b you don'b inako no trouble for us.' The other muttered soma reply,which the rider could nob distinguish ; neither could he detect whab sorb of a voico this man's mighb be. 