CHAPTER XIV.
The weather the next day was so mild and pleasant that Max and Lulu asked and obtained permission to take a ride of several miles on their ponies.
They went alone, their father and Violet having driven out in the family carriage, taking the three younger children with them.
On their return Max and his sister approached the house from a rear entrance to the grounds, passing through the bit of woods belonging to the estate, the garden and shrubbery, and across the lawn.
In traversing the wood they came upon a man leaning idly against a tree, in a lounging attitude, with his hands in his pockets, a half consumed cigar in his mouth.
He was a stranger to the children, and from, his shabby, soiled clothing, unkempt locks, and unshaven face, it was evident he belonged to the order of tramps.
He stood directly in the path the children were pursuing, just where it made a sudden turn, and Lulu's pony had almost trodden upon his foot before they were aware of his vicinity.
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.