CHAPTER XXI.

THE NET CLOSED.

KIT sped swiftly and silently as a mousing-owl under the shadow of the great maple-trees, where the soft, short grass returned no sound to her tread. It was not till she reached a spot out of sight of house and barn that she stopped to put on her shoes, without which she dared not try to ascend the stony path. It was soon done; and she took her way up the hill, stopping more than once to look round, and strain her eyes through the darkness. She could not resist the conviction that some one or something was following her, stopping when she stopped, and moving when she moved. Her blood chilled at the thought. Could it be Gale, who had seen her, after all? Or was it what?

Kit had heard plenty of wild stories, and had abundance of superstitious fears. She had heard from her Indian friends, of creatures which roamed at night to entrap unwary travellers; first scaring them out of their senses, and then tearing them to pieces. She had heard, too, from the school-children, about the great snake, which at least once in the

year crossed the town of Oldham from Indian Hill to the Big Swamp, and back again, who should say on what errand? She had heard, too, of panthers (or "painters," as the children called them), wild animals, but endued with more than animal cunning and malice; and, like every old New-England town, Oldham had plenty of legends of goblin and ghost, witch and what not.

"But they can't hurt me unless He lets them, and I don't believe He will," said Kit sturdily to herself, after a longer pause than usual, during which she was sure she had heard the breaking of a dry twig under some one's foot. "I don't believe Gale saw me, and I'm sure nobody about here would hurt me."

So saying, she hastened on more rapidly, as if to atone for her delay; but it seemed an age to her before she reached the turn by her favorite ledge, and saw the stone house not far away, and a dim light burning in Madam Van Zandt's window. The next room was Amity's, she knew; but how to rouse them? She stood a second to consider, and then took up a handful of gravel, and threw it against the window.

Waked by the noise, Amity started up; but, before she could strike a light, the sound came again, and a soft voice called, "Miss Bogardus!" She sprang to the window, and, opening it, saw a little dark figure below.

"O Miss Bogardus, hurry and let me in!" said Kit in a tone of entreaty, for her courage was fast giving way. "Oh, do hurry! I am sure I hear

them."

"What is it, Amity?" asked Ida sleepily from the

next room.

"It is Kit, and she wants to come in," answered Amity; and again came the agonized entreaty, “O Miss Bogardus, do hurry!"

It seemed an age to Kit, though it was not more than a few minutes, before she was admitted to the side hall, where were assembled Mrs. Van Zandt, Amity, and Ida, and another tall young lady whom Kit did not know.

"Fasten the door, quick!" were Kit's first words. “Fasten all the doors and windows.”

"Yes, yes, we will fasten them," said Amity soothingly. "My dear child, what is the matter?"

"Fasten the doors; never mind me. Oh, do be quick! they will be here."

"Who will be here?" asked Ida.

"The robbers. Uncle Phin sent me to tell you. They are coming to rob the house to-night. Don't ask me any more questions, but hurry and fasten up every thing. They will be here: I heard some one coming up the hill. Oh, do hurry! they will kill you."

Ida, never very courageous, looked at Amity in dismay. The tall young lady, whom Kit did not know, stepped into her room, and brought out a neat little case, which she began to unlock.

"There will be two words to that," said she coolly. "How many are there?"

"Only two that I know of, but there may be more. Uncle Phin sent me to tell you. Oh, why don't you hurry and fasten up every thing?" said Kit,

clasping her hands in an agony of impatience, as the girls looked at each other.

"My dear child, I don't understand you," said Mrs. Van Zandt soothingly. "I almost think you must have been dreaming."

Kit stood up, and strove to speak calmly; but, before she could answer, Percy broke in,

'Excuse me, Mrs. Van Zandt, but I think we are the dreamers. If the child's story is true, we have not a moment to lose; if it is false, we shall only have lost our labor. Don't stand staring, girls, but collect the valuables, and carry them to some safe place. — Aggy, get together Mrs. Van Zandt's jewels and laces. Amity, you and Ida take the spoons and silver. Is there any money in the house?"

"Only a few dollars."

"So much the better. Come, girls, be quick."

"Wouldn't it be better to dress, and run down to Miss Claxton's?" suggested Amity.

And so run right into the arms of these men, as likely as not," said Ida. Besides, aunt Barbara could not do it. No, Amity: Percy is right. Don't waste a moment. What are you going to do, Percy?"

"Stand here and keep guard for the present," answered Percy, examining the charges of her revolver, and changing a doubtful-looking cartridge.

"But you won't shoot anybody?" said Mrs. Van Zandt.

"Not if I can help it. Dear Mrs. Van Zandt, do let Aggy take you up stairs."

"How cool you are!" said Ida, pausing a moment,

with her lap full of spoons.

"I wish I were like

you. I am horribly frightened."

"So am I," answered Percy; "but, if you had lived two years and a half in Arizona, you would know that the more scared you are, the cooler you need to be."

In a very few minutes every thing of value was stored in a strong closet built for such purposes, and not easy to find unless the searcher knew where to look; and the ladies betook themselves to the front bedroom over the door, and awaited their unwelcome visitors. They had not long to wait. In less than half an hour, stealthy steps were heard, and the handle of the door was carefully tried. To Ida's terror, Percy opened the window and called, "Who is there?

"Let us in," was the response.

"Not till I know who you are."

"Look here, young woman, just you let us in peaceably, and we won't hurt you: if we have to let ourselves in, perhaps we shall. We mean to have what is worth having in this house, and you can't help yourself."

"That's Gale," whispered Kit. "He'll kill you all, as likely as not, if he gets in. He doesn't care what he does."

"He won't get in," answered Percy; then, speaking to the men outside, "We have fire-arms, and know how to use them. The first man who enters this house is a dead man."

"Do come away, Percy: he will shoot you,” urged Ida.