For two hours Sally rode on undisturbed, then there loomed a great wagon she must either meet or hide somewhere to avoid it.
She thought it safer to ride to the back of a great barn and hide. But Hotspur liked not being drawn up into the dark shadow. Just as the wagon rumbled by he gave a loud neigh. Up went a window somewhere overhead.
"Who's there?" called a harsh voice. "Answer, or I'll let out the dogs."
"Say, Mars'," called Sally, in a shrill tone, "how far to Parson Kendall's, and how far to Farmer Hinds's?"
"You must be a fool!" replied the gruff voice. "Parson Kendall's lies way behind, two or three hours' ride. Hinds's place is two hours ahead, straight along by the bushes, through the oak belt, and on by the river path."
"De bushes road straight on, isn't it?" asked Sally.
"Follow your stupid nose, and half an hour's ride will bring you to it. I say, whose horse have you got there?"
"Yah! yah! dis hoss get me dar all right," cried Sally, and hitting a heel against Hotspur, she was off like a rocket, hearing nothing more.
But alack! five or six horsemen next approached on the lonely road, and there appeared no way of escape. The house and barn were far behind, nor would she have turned and fled. Only open fields and meadows lay ahead.
Then Sally made a mistake.