“Where shall we stop, then?”

“I have not yet quite made up my mind.  We will ride till about eight o’clock, and then stop over at whatever place we chance to have reached.”

This arrangement struck Herbert favorably.  He was in no particular hurry, and the scenery was so fine, that he feared that he should lose a great deal by traveling at night, when, of course, he could not see anything.

They sat for a while in silence.  Then Mr. Carroll inquired, suddenly, “Did you ever fire a pistol, Herbert?”

“Yes, sir,” was the surprised reply.

“Then you understand how to use one?”

“Oh, yes, sir.  There was a young man in Waverley, the town where I used to live, who owned one, and I sometimes borrowed it to fire at a mark.”

“Then I think I will intrust this weapon to your charge,” said the old gentleman, drawing from his pocket a handsome pistol, and placing it in Herbert’s hand.

“Is it loaded, sir?”

“No, not at present.  We will have it loaded before going to bed.  I will tell you,” he added, in a lower tone, “my reason for going armed.  It so happens that I have a large amount of money with me, and, of course, I feel a little concerned about its safety.”

“Perhaps it will be well not to say anything more about it at present, sir,” suggested Herbert, in a low voice.  “You may be heard by someone who would like to take advantage of his discovery.”

“No doubt you are right.  I will follow your advice.”

Herbert would not have thought to give this caution, but, just as Mr. Carroll uttered the words, “I have a large sum of money with me,” a man dressed in a rough frieze coat, with black whiskers, and a general appearance, which, to say the least, did not prepossess Herbert in his favor, chanced to walk through the car.  Whether he caught the words Herbert could not tell, but he paused a moment, and fixed an unpleasant eye upon the two, as if determined to know them when he should meet them again.  There was another suspicious circumstance.  It had evidently been his intention to pass through the car, but he paused abruptly, and, turning back, sank into an unoccupied seat a few feet back of that occupied by Mr. Carroll and his young companion.

His attention naturally drawn by this suspicious conduct, Herbert was impelled to glance back once or twice.  Each time he met the watchful look of the man fixed upon them, instead of being directed at the scenery outside, as was the case with the other passengers.  When he saw that the boy was watching him, he turned his head carelessly, and commenced whistling.  But this apparent indifference did not deceive Herbert for a moment.

“I will watch him,” thought our hero.  “I do not like his looks.  If he means mischief, as I think very probable, it is necessary that I should be on my guard against him.”

At half-past seven o’clock Mr. Carroll signified his intention of getting out at the next station.  “I am beginning to feel tired,” he said, “and shall feel the better for a good supper and a night’s rest.”