me, Mah'sr George.' And then he laughed, an' says, 'You would make a
pretty soldier, dat's true, Uncle Braddock. But I don't want no
soldiers; what I want you to do is to take these horses home.' 'To
where? says I. 'To Akeville,' says Mah'sr George. An' he didn't say much
more, neither; for he jist tied dem horses all together and led 'em out
into a little road dat goes fru de woods dar, an' he put me on de head
horse, an' he says, 'Now, go 'long, Uncle Braddock, an' ef anything
happens to dem hosses you'll have to go to jail fur it. So, look out!'
An' bress your soul, Mah'sr Harry, I did have to look out, fur sich a
drefful time as I did have, 'specially wid dat yaller hoss, I nebber did
see."




CHAPTER XV.

THE COUNCIL.


When Harry's mother heard that he had gone off to try and meet the
horse-hunters she was quite anxious about him.

But Mr. Loudon laughed at her fears.

"If there had been the slightest danger," he said, "of course I would
not have allowed him to go. But I was glad he wanted to go. A youngster
of his age ought to have a disposition to see what is going on and to
take part, too, for that matter. I had much rather find it necessary to
restrain Harry than to push him. You mustn't want to make a girl of him.