"Yes, sir," he repeated, "she seems to have let up altogether. Ought
to have a nice day to-morrow, Mr. Barnes,--nice, cool day for
walkin'."

Voices came up from the darkness. Jones had not been able to cover
them with his own. Barnes caught two or three sharp commands, rising
above the pawing of horses' hoofs, and then a great clatter as the
mounted horsemen rode off in the direction of the cross-roads. The
beat of the hoofs became rhythmical as the animals steadied into a
swinging lope.

Barnes waited until they were muffled by distance, and then turned to
Jones with the laconic remark:

"They seem to be foreigners, Mr. Jones." Jones's manner became natural
once more. He leaned against one of the posts and, striking a match on
his leg, relighted his pipe.

"Kind o' curious about 'em, eh?" he drawled.

"It never entered my mind until this instant to be curious," said
Barnes.

"Well, it entered their minds about an hour ago to be curious about
you," said the other.




CHAPTER IV