"A what?" interjected Emma.
"Moral responsibility. I am responsible for the safety of you girls and my powerful body shall stand between you and all harm."
"Ahem—m—m," piped Emma Dean.
"To what storm did he refer?" asked Grace. She was regarding Hippy narrowly, not yet sure that he was not joking, though she did not believe he was.
"I don't know, Brown Eyes. That depends upon which way the wind blows. It feels like snow to me. He did not say what kind of storm, but he strongly advised what I have told you," answered the lieutenant.
"It doesn't sound reasonable to me. I do not see how we should be any safer on the farm you speak of, than we shall be by following the trail to Hall's Corners, all the time attending strictly to our own business," observed Elfreda.
"Nor do I," agreed Grace.
"I will tell you why, Elfreda," answered Hippy. "We shall be safer there, where, for some reason, my informant doesn't seem to think those ruffians will bother us. Whereas, if we remain out and continue on our way to our destination, I shall probably be shot. Those mountaineers are bound to get me."
"What?" gasped Nora Wingate. "Hippy, my darlin', do you mean it?"
"Yes I do. There is a price on my head up here! That's the whole story."