“Help! help!” faintly sighed the breeze.
“What is all this? What new wonder is to happen on this eventful night?” thought Ned.
At that moment his good mare Starlight neighed and became restive.
“Hillo! what means this? The mare would not neigh without cause. There is some one in danger; the mare recognizes some old stable companion. I will away, and quickly return.”
“Help! help!” was borne upon the breeze.
In a moment Wildfire Ned vaulted into the saddle and dashed forward to the scene of strife and danger.
The report of fire-arms to Wildfire Ned was like the sounds of most delightful music.
His heart leaped within him as he mounted his brave mare, Starlight.
“Heaven grant it may turn out to be some more of these skeleton devils,” he said, with a merry laugh.
Over hedge and ditch he galloped in the clear moonlight, and soon reached the high road.