The line of march was resumed, and a quarter of a mile distant they pa.s.sed through a gate and began the ascent of a hill, at the summit of which was a grove of tall trees. Walter shuddered and his heart sank within him, for he understood only too well what fate was in store for him.

CHAPTER x.x.xIV

A TERRIBLE ORDEAL

At the summit of the hill Walter's captors came to a halt.

"Young man," said the leader sternly, "your hours are numbered. Have you anything to say?"

"I have a good deal to say," answered Walter, finding his voice and speaking indignantly. "Even if I were guilty, which I am not, you have no right to condemn me to death untried."

One of the masked men, who had hitherto stood in the background, came forward, and in clear, ringing accents spoke:

"The lad says right. He has not been proved guilty, and I for one believe him innocent."

"I thank G.o.d," said Walter, "that there is one among you whose heart is not wholly hardened. I stand here a boy--barely eighteen years old.

Is there no one among you who has a son of my age?"

"The boy is right," said another in a deep voice. "Men, we are acting like cowards and brutes."

"So say I!" a third man broke in, and he ranged himself beside the other two.

"This is all folly!" exclaimed the leader angrily. "You men are milksops and chicken-hearted." Walter's face flamed.

"Will you allow this?" he exclaimed, as the leader seized him by the collar and drew him to a tree.

"I won't!" said the first man to p.r.o.nounce in his favor. "Seth Pendleton, let go your hold!"

"Look out!" cried Pendleton fiercely, "or you may swing, too!"

"You hear what he says," said Walter's friend. "Why are you so hard on the boy?"

"Why am I so hard on horse thieves? I'll tell you. Ten years ago I had a horse that was as dear to me as a brother. One morning I found the stable door open and the horse gone. I followed him, but I never recovered him."

"Who stole him?"

"A man named d.i.c.k Ranney, who has since become a noted highwayman."

This was astonishing news to Walter.

"Do you know where d.i.c.k Ranney is now?" he asked.

"I heard that he had been captured."

"I am the one who captured him, and for this I received a reward of a thousand dollars!" answered Walter.

CHAPTER x.x.xV

THE EMPTY JAIL

Walter drew from his pocket a folded paper.

"Read that!" he said.

"MR. WALTER SHERWOOD:

"I have pleasure in sending you the reward for the capture of the noted criminal, d.i.c.k Ranney.

"MILES GRAY, Sheriff."

"Shall I tell you the story?" asked Walter.

"Yes! Yes!" exclaimed more than one.

Walter gave an account of the affair in a clear, distinct manner.

"Now, gentlemen," said Walter, as he concluded, "do you believe that I would stoop to steal a horse?"

There were shouts of "No! No!"

And Walter might have gone scot free had he chosen, but he did not choose.

"No, gentlemen," he said, "take me back to the lockup.

"The door is broken!"

"That will make no difference with me. I prefer to stand trial and let my innocence be proved."

"He's a brave lad!" said more than one.

"I wish my John would turn out like him," added one of Walter's original supporters. "You shall go with me, and have the best bed in the house," he continued.

Walter accepted this proposal with thanks.

Of all that had pa.s.sed during the night Constable Stokes was blissfully unconscious. At an early hour he bent his steps toward the jail. When he saw the door broken he was astounded.

He felt it necessary to report what had happened to some magistrate.

He had walked but a few steps when he met Mr. Barry, Walter's lawyer.

"And how is my young client this morning, Stokes?" inquired the lawyer pleasantly.