was real nice of you to ask us to come,” put in Andy.

“We have enjoyed your company,” said Laura, and Flossie said the same. Then Mr. and Mrs. Ford asked them to call again.

“You must come down to our school,” said Jack. “On Saturdays we give a special drill.”

“And Jack, you know, is our major!” said Andy.

“Oh, pa, we must see the drill by all means!” cried the two girls.

“Well, we can drive over some day,” answered the fond parent.

It was quarter to ten when the boys left the grounds in the buggy. The lantern was lit and hung over the dashboard, yet it did not light the road very well, and they had to proceed with care.

“This isn’t so nice,” observed Andy, when they were in a black portion of the woods. “Supposing some tramps or highway robbers should pounce out on us?”

“Andy must have been reading some trashy five-cent library,” laughed Pepper. “I caught Link Smiley reading one the other day, and I had to laugh at all the hair-breadth escapes the so-called hero had.”

“Excuse me, but I’m not giving up my good nickels for such rot,” answered Andy. “Good books are too plentiful. But it is dark and no mistake.”

“I see a light ahead!” interrupted Pepper. “Perhaps a carriage is coming this way.”

They drove slowly, and presently came up to where the light was resting, on a limb of a tree. Just as they were opposite to the lantern, eight masked figures leaped out from behind the bushes.

“Stop!” was the command. “Don’t you dare to drive another step!”

CHAPTER X IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY

IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY

“What are we up against now?”

“Are these fellows tramps?”

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