Fairy shied, snorting with fright, and almost unseated her young rider.

“Look out there, and don’t ride a fellow down!” growled the man, catching hold of Fairy’s bridle and scowling into the face of her rider.

Lulu did not seem to be frightened.  Her quick temper rose at the man’s insolence, and she exclaimed authoritatively, “Let go of my bridle this instant, and get out of the path.”

“I will when I get ready, and no sooner,” returned the man insolently.

“What are you doing in these grounds, sir?” demanded Max, adding, “You have no call to be here.  Let go of that bridle and step out of the path at once.”

“I’m not under your orders, bubby,” said the tramp with a disagreeable, mocking laugh.

“These are my father’s grounds,” said Max, drawing himself up with a determined air, “and we don’t allow tramps and loafers here; so if you don’t let go of that bridle and be off I’ll set my dog on you.  Here, Prince, Prince!”

At the sound of the call, answered by a loud bark, and the sight of Prince’s huge form making rapid bounds in his direction, the tramp released Fairy’s bridle, and growling out an oath, turned and made his way with all celerity toward the public road, leaping the fence that separated it from Capt.  Raymond’s grounds, barely in time to escape Prince’s teeth, as he made a dash to seize him by the leg.

“Oh,” cried Lulu, drawing a long breath of relief, “what a happy thing that Prince came running out to meet us!”

“Yes,” said Max, “and I hope he has given that fellow a fright that will keep him from ever coming into these grounds again.  If he isn’t a scoundrel his looks certainly belie him very much.”

They had held their ponies in check while watching the race between man and dog, but now urged them forward in haste to reach the house; for the short winter day was fast closing in.

The captain was standing on the veranda as they rode up.

“You are a trifle late, children,” he said, as he stepped to the side of Fairy and lifted Lulu from the saddle, but his tone was not stern.

“Yes, papa,” said Max; “I’m afraid we went a little farther than we ought; at any rate it took us longer than we expected to reach home again; and we were detained a minute or two just now, out here in the grove, by a tramp that caught hold of Fairy’s bridle and wouldn’t let go till I called Prince and he showed his teeth.”

“What! can it be possible?” cried the captain closing his fingers more firmly over the hand Lulu had slipped into his, and gazing down into her face with a look of mingled concern and relief.  “It is well indeed that Lulu was not alone, and that Prince was at hand.  Come into the library and tell me all about it.”

He led Lulu in as he spoke, Max following, while a servant took the ponies to their stable.

Capt.  Raymond sat down and drew Lulu to his side, putting an arm protectingly around her, while Max, standing near, went on to give the particulars of their encounter with the tramp, Lulu now and then putting in a word.