CHAPTER III.
HIPPY BOUNCES THE "SHEREEF" Still the newcomer stood peering into the faces of the Overlanders.
Hippy began talking to the man with his fingers in the deaf and dumb system.

The stranger regarded him frowningly, then shifted his rifle into his right hand.
"Who be yuh ?" demanded the man.
"Oh! I thought you were a dummy," apologized Hippy.

"A thousand pardons, old man." "May I ask who _you_ are and what you wish ?" questioned Grace pleasantly, as she stepped forward.
"Ah asked yuh first.

Who be yuh ?" "We are a party from the north, riding through the Kentucky Mountains partly for pleasure, partly for business reasons." "Whut business ?" "That is a personal question, is it not ?" smiled Grace.

"Won't you sit down and rest before you go on?
We shall be glad to have you do so." "Be yuh goin' to answer mah question ?" "I think not, sir." "Ah'll tell yuh who Ah be, then, an' mebby yuh'll answer.