Dick Halliard had walked only a short distance along the lonely forest path when he made a startling discovery.  
While he was stealthily following some one, an unknown party was following him. His own senses were on the alert, and the young hero caught the faint footfalls not far behind him.
 
“That’s more than I bargained for,” he muttered, “and now would be a good time to have my pistol; but I haven’t got it, so what’s the use of thinking about it.”
 
There was comfort in the thought, however, that the stranger who was at his heels was of the fact. Had he wished to approach secretly, he could have stepped so softly that Dick would have heard nothing of him.
 
But the sensation of being between two fires, and liable to run into both, was so unpleasant that the lad stepped noiselessly from the path and screened himself among the shadows, until the one at the rear should pass him.
 
He had not long to wait when the footsteps were heard opposite, and with the help of a partial ray of moonlight, which reached the path at that point, he was able to discern the outlines of the party.
 
It was well that he was so familiar with the route, for, had he not been, he must have betrayed himself against the overhanging limbs and bushes, with an occasional depression in the ground, where it was necessary to step with great care.
 
Had Dick not known the precise point in the dark where a small stream wound its way across, he would have learned from an angry of the fellow in front, who slipped and fell forward in it. A slightly longer step than usual placed the on the other side, and he continued his guarded pursuit.
 
The next moment brought a sharp shock to Dick, who suddenly became aware that the footfalls in front had ceased. The fellow had stopped walking, and seemed to be still, as if listening. The first warning Dick received after he checked himself was a glimpse of his head and shoulders just in advance.
 
Fearful of being detected himself, Dick instantly drew back with the noiselessness of an Indian , and stood ready to retreat farther or aside, as might be necessary.
 
“Hulloa there!”
 
The call had a gruesome sound in the solemn stillness of the woods, and for a moment Dick was sure he was discovered. He made no answer, and the hail was repeated, but with no more success than before.
 
He was convinced that the fellow was not certain any one was behind him, but was seeking to verify a suspicion he had formed.
 
Failing of reply, he was quiet a moment longer, when he emitted a low whistle, like the cry of a night bird.
 
This, too, had to be repeated, but was more successful than in the former instance, for on the second call a reply came from a point farther on, but not far off. Only a few seconds elapsed when some one was heard approaching, and the couple quickly met in the path, not more than twenty feet from where Dick was standing.
 
They began talking, but at first he could not catch the words, which were uttered in low tones. He therefore stole a little nearer, and heard them distinctly.
 
“I suppose you have become pretty well acquainted with the country?” was the remark of Jim McGovern.
 
“Well, there isn’t much to get acquainted with. I went down to the vil............