"You're beyond hope," he declared.

After what seemed like hours of climbing, though in reality it was not
more than two at the most, the three reached what apparently was the top
of the mountain, and the road stretched out level ahead of them, heavily
shaded on both sides with trees.

"Nice place for a fellow to hide and shoot a man," said Stubbs almost
cheerfully.

Hal just looked at the little man but said nothing. Edwards grinned.

"Real cheerful little fellow, aren't you?" he said dryly.

Stubbs grinned back at him.

"I just said--" he began.

"We heard you," interrupted Hal.

The three trudged along silently for a few moments. Then, coming to a
place where the trees crowded the road even closer and the branches hung
low across their path, Stubbs again broke the silence.

"An assassin--" he began.

The interruption this time came from another source.

The little man's hat suddenly leaped from his head. There was the low
whine of a bullet and a rifle cracked from the woods on the left.