"Meet me? It would have been easier to have waited I there until I
arrived."

"It is to prevent your arrival that I have come," and Stephen had very
much the appearance of a bearer of evil tidings.

"What is the matter? Why do you look so glum? Is my mother well?".

"Yes; but sorrowing."

"Tell me what has happened."

"Your cattle and horses have been sold by the sheriff."

"How can that be? It is not forty-eight hours since they were attached,"

"That is true; but yet they have been sold, Samuel Haines is at the bottom
of the mischief, and he it was who bought them. He is now declaring you
shall be arrested for stealing his horse, and Master McCleary sent me to
warn you not to come home until the matter can be arranged."

"Not go home!" Walter repeated, like one bewildered. "Where, then, shall I
go ?"

"Your mother bade me ask you why you did not visit the land on the
Pascataqua? It is not likely you would be searched for there, and I should
be able to find you whenever it might be necessary."

Walter was silent a few moments, as if trying to under stand all that had
befallen him, and then said, slowly,-