“How can we help you?” he said to the woman.
“It isn’t safe for us anywhere around here,” she declared. “I must get to my husband.”
“At Brambly Fork, you mean?”
“Yes, that’s where he is, and his crowd.”
“Is it far from here?”
“About fifteen miles. He ought to know about the MacGuffins, so as to drive them away before they steal our cattle and crops. I can manage to get along with the baby, but the little girl is ready to drop down from tiredness. See, oh, hide! hide! They are coming this way!”
Among the trees beyond the clearing the boys could see men with torches and armed with rifles coming in their direction.
“They are going to fire our house next!” cried the woman, bursting into tears.
“I am afraid it would be foolish for us to try and prevent them,” remarked Dave. “They are armed and in a dangerous mood.”
“You would simply risk your lives.”