The meeting between Tom Gordon and Jim Travers was one of the most joyous character.
As soon as the fugitive recognized his old friend, he uttered a cry of delight, and rushing forward, threw his arms around his neck, and the latter responded with a regular shout of happiness.
Then they laughed and asked and answered questions for some ten minutes, both in such a flutter of excitement, that their stock of knowledge was scarcely increased in the least.
By the time they got down to their sober senses, Jim awoke to the fact that a couple of bad men were after him, and were likely to pursue him across the threshold of the farmer's home.
There was no one present during the affecting interview between the lads excepting the kind host, and he was so touched by the joy of his guests that he more than once drew his hand across his face in a very expressive manner.
When Jim explained his peril, telling how it was he escaped to this place, the farmer said,--
"You may bid farewell to all earthly fear while you're here with me. The old woman is over to one of the neighbors', and there ain't no one home but me; howsomever, I'm equal to any two."
Just then the gate was heard to shut, and the farmer stepped hurriedly to the window and looked out.
"Yes, there's two men coming up the path."
"They're after me," said the frightened Jim; "let me run out through the back way; I can get away from them."