“Sprained an ankle, not much, but it will lay him up for a few days.  The other man we have is Charlie Valdes, known as Big Charlie.  The story of Valdes dates back to the time when Jan was a deputy sheriff.  He ran down Charlie and another bad character, Henry Tracy.  Both fellows were poachers, preying on the preserves of rich men in these mountains.  Jan got his hands on the pair and gathered the evidence that put them in prison.  Charlie’s time was up first, and he came back on purpose to even the score with Jan.  The instant I had a description of the fellow who bothered you in Compton I felt sure it was Big Charlie.  He’s the man who has been following you, and we’ll prove the burning of the bridge against him, too.”

“Did Mr. Grubb catch the man again this time, too?” asked Hazel.

“Jan overhauled Valdes, and in the fight that followed put a bullet in his leg,” replied the sheriff.  “It was in the tussle that Jan got his ankle sprained, but your guide landed his man.  Sometimes Jan may seem slow, but in a rumpus he’s a terror for speed, decision, and grit.  We were heading up the White Trail, hoping to head you off, when we ran into Jan and Valdes.”

Later, at the county seat the Meadow-Brook Girls were permitted to put their evidence against Big Charlie, whom they recognized and identified.  Charlie was held for trial, and afterward sent back to prison for a much longer term than his first one.

The Meadow-Brook Girls regretted parting with Janus Grubb, whom they held in the highest esteem.  But Janus was not able to guide any one for the next fortnight or longer, so he recommended a new guide, who led the Meadow-Brook Girls on a long mountain “hike” over beaten trails.  Then, at last, Harriet Burrell and her friends reluctantly turned homeward.

***End of the project gutenberg EBOOK the Meadow-Brook girls in the hills***

******* This file should be named 17865.txt or 17865.zip *******

This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:  http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/8/6/17865

Updated editions will replace the previous one—­the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the project gutenberg-tm concept and trademark.  Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research.  They may be modified and printed and given away—­you may do practically anything with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.