“I did not realize the days were becoming so short,” said Miss Konster as she opened the door.  “I’m sorry you have so far to drive.”

“Oh, I don’t mind,” said Adelaide, “I know the way home well enough.  You see I have the double carriage, for I brought a guest to the depot as usual, although he is to return with me, and is probably very tired of waiting at the ‘depot hotel.’”

It was nearly dark as Percy took his place in the rear seat, Adelaide having again declined to yield her position as driver, and now she had more packages nearly filling the seat beside her.

The team leisurely took the homeward way and nothing more was said except an occasional word of encouragement to the horses.  They passed the lowest point in the valley and began to ascend the gentle slope, when the carriage suddenly stopped, and Adelaide uttered a muffled scream.  “Come, Honey, said a masculine voice.”

As Percy half rose to his feet, he saw that a negro had grasped Adelaide in an effort to drag her from the carriage.  A blow from Percy staggered the brute and he released his hold of Adelaide, but, as he saw Percy jump from the carriage on the opposite side, he paused.

“De’s a man heah.  Knock him, Geo’ge,” he yelled, as he turned to again grapple with Adelaide

“Coward,” cried Adelaide, as she saw Percy jump from the carriage and dart up the road.  Facing this black brute, she was standing alone now with one hand on the back of the seat.  As the negro sprang at her the second time he uttered a scream like the cry of a beast and fell sprawling on his face.  Almost at the same moment his companion was fairly lifted from his feet and came down headlong beside the carriage.

“Look out for the horses,” called Percy, as he drove the heels of his heavy shoes into the moaning mass on the ground.

“Lie there, you brute,” he cried, “don’t you dare to move.”

“I have the lines,” said Adelaide hoarsely, “but can’t I do something more?”

“No. they’re both down,” he answered.  “Wait a minute.”

He found himself between the negroes lying with their faces to the ground.  Instantly he grasped each by the wrist and with an inward twist he brought forth cried for mercy.  It was a trick he had learned in college, that, by drawing the arm behind the back and twisting, a boy could control a strong man.

“Can’t I help you?” Adelaide called again, and Percy saw that she was out of the carriage and standing near.

“Will the horses stand?” he asked.

“Oh, yes, they’re quiet now.”

“Then take the tie rope and tie their feet together.  Use the slip knot just as you do for the hitching post,” he directed.  “If they dare to move I can wrench their arms out in this position.  Right there at the ankles.  Tie them tight and as closely together as you can.  Wrap it twice around if it’s long enough.”

Adelaide tied one end of the rope around the ankle of one negro and wrapped the other end around the ankle of the other, drawing their feet together and fastening the ends of the rope with a double hitch, which she knew well how to make.