to raising the amount of my taxes, for I have twice been warned that they
are due".

"I will see to it that you do not suffer by the delay. Go at once, and let
nothing detain you; we expect the message will be delivered early to-
morrow morning." Neal's home lay two miles west of Portsmouth, and
without waiting to attend to the business for which he had visited the
town, he hastened toward it at a rapid pace. His mind was easy in regard
to the payment of the taxes, for McCleary would keep every promise made,
and when he returned it should be possible to make the necessary
arrangements with Ephraim Foulsham within twenty-four hours.

When he arrived in view of the log-house which his father had built twenty
years previous, Walter understood that something out of the ordinary
course of events had happened. The doors of the barn were open, and his
mother stood in front of the building, as if in deepest distress. A
portion of the rail-fence which enclosed the buildings was torn down, and
the cart that had been left by the side of the road was no longer to be
seen.

"You could not borrow the money? " his mother said, interrogatively, while
he was yet some distance away.

"I haven't had an opportunity to see Master Foulsham. What has happened?"

"The worst, my son, that could befall us at this time. The officers have
attached the cattle and the horse. Even if you can borrow money, the costs
of the action will eat up all we had to live on this coming winter."

"The horse gone!" Walter exclaimed, as if in bewilderment.