“Fire and furies!” cried the leader startled by the sudden appearance of the man, “whom have we here? Whoa, Ned!”
“Only me,” replied the strange scout, meekly. “Don’t ride over me, Mister Sojers, and I’ll get out of the way as soon as I can.”
“Who are you? and where do you come from, old man, at this hour?”
“My name is Moses, sir! am going to my darter’s, Ann Mayhesters. P’raps you know Ann Mayhesters?”
“Hang you and Ann Mayhesters. Get out of my way, old graybeard, or I’ll ride right over you.”
“Don’t, Mister Sojers; have respect for these gray hairs. Whither do you ride so fast?”
“Ride over the old fool,” exclaimed one of the horsemen.
“Say, old man, have you seen any one on your journey to-night?”
“Seen any one, my young friend, truly I have not, barring one and I would hardly think of naming her.”
“Then you have seen one—a woman, too!” cried the other, eagerly.