Some distance to his left Ralph could now detect a connected sound as
if a tune were being whistled. In his eager desire for human
companionship, he cast prudence completely aside and ran forward
shouting:

"Hold on! I'm coming. Hold on till I get there!"




CHAPTER IV.

The Moonshiners and the Railroad.

The whistling stopped suddenly. Ralph kept on, however, in the
direction where he had last heard the sounds, and presently
distinguished two dim forms standing in an open space amid the trees,
through which ran the white thread that indicated the lost trail.

"I say," began the lad, "are you fellows going down the mountain? If
you are, I'd like to go with you. Fact is, I believe I'm lost."

"Halt, there, young feller!" was the reply, given in sharp, stern
tones. "One step further and you'll find half an ounce of lead under
your skin, mebbe."

Ralph obeyed, somewhat puzzled and decidedly alarmed. The men--there
were two of them--drew something over their faces, then ordered the boy
to advance.