“The señorita must return on Chico,” said Pablo. “Unc’ Aaron have a horse to ride the roads, the cousin of you, Mr. Pattison, another. Who is find you make a signal of fire from the hilltop.”
“You’ll come too, to keep me in countenance, won’t you?” said Joanne to the other two boys, as she mounted the pony.
“I suppose we may as well see the adventure to a finish.” Bob looked at Jack.
“I’m with you,” replied Jack.
So the rescued maiden, on her palfrey and with her body-guard, proceeded safely through the dark forest.
CHAPTER XIX
THE CONCERT
BEFORE the little party reached the lodge Pablo had rushed on ahead to give the news of Joanne’s safety, and presently a beacon fire shot up from the top of the hill, so that almost as soon as Joanne arrived the searchers for her began to come in, first Mr. Clover, then Mr. Pattison, last of all Unc’ Aaron.
Mrs. Pattison was the first to greet her. “If I wasn’t so glad to see you,” she said, hugging and kissing her, “I’d scold you well for running away and scaring us all nearly to death.”
“But I didn’t run and I didn’t mean to get lost. I was scared, too.”
“Of course you were, and after all it was my fault for not keeping you in sight. I told Ned that.”