He struck out down the trail whistling merrily. Now that he was on the
right road again, and with a clear night before him, he felt far more
cheerful than before.

He found the old field without difficulty, and not far beyond he struck
the Hendersonville pike as the moonshiner had intimated.

Here the country was more open. Large fields, interspersed with
patches of woodland, were on either hand. Now and then he would pass a
cabin, his approach being heralded by the barking of dogs.

Once or twice large buildings came into view. These were the
residences of the more wealthy class of planters. Even in the dim
starlight, Ralph saw that they were larger than the log dwellings he
was accustomed to.

Finally the moon went down. He would have stopped at some house and
asked for shelter, but the hour was so late that he shrank from
disturbing strangers. The night was not uncomfortably cool and he was
getting further on.

Roosters began to crow. A few clouds glided athwart some of the
brightest stars and he found difficulty in traveling.

Just beyond some buildings he stumbled over something hard and
immovable. As he picked himself up, his hand came in contact with cold
steel.

Peering closely he saw two long lines running parallel as far as he
could distinguish on either hand. He found that they were of iron or