"You said you knew her," returned the man, not unpleasantly.

"Indeed I said so," replied Lynde, reddening. "What has happened? What
has she done, what have I done, what has the old clergyman done, that we
should be seized like murderers on the public highway?"

"Be quiet now," said the man, laying his hand soothingly on Lynde's arm,
and looking at him steadily. "Everything will be satisfactorily
explained by and by."

Lynde's indignation blazed up again.

"I can assure you, sir," he cried, as the man returned to his former
position, "that the result of the explanation will be far from
satisfactory to you. I shall hold to strict account every man who has
had a hand in this business. I demand to be brought before a magistrate,
or a justice of the peace, if there is one in this God-forsaken
country."

No attention was paid to Lynde's fresh outbreak. Some one picked up his
hat and set it on the back of his head, giving him quite a rakish air.
His dignity suffered until the wind took the hat again. The party
proceeded in silence, halting once to tighten a girth, and another time
to wait for a straggler. If the men spoke to one another it was in
subdued tones or whispers. Two of the horsemen trotted on a hundred
yards in advance, like skirmishers thrown out in front of an attacking
force. There was something in all this mysterious precaution and
reticence which bewildered and exasperated Lynde, who noted every
detail. Mary, in a transient spasm of backing, had fallen to the rear;