Midway of the field and near the water-course arose McKinstry's barn--the solitary human structure whose rude, misshapen, bulging sides and swallow-haunted eaves bursting with hay from the neighboring pasture, seemed however only an extravagant growth of the prolific soil.

Mrs.McKinstry gazed at it anxiously.

There was no sign of life or movement near or around it; it stood as it had always stood, deserted and solitary.

But turning her eyes to the right, beyond the water-course, she could see a slight regular undulation of the grassy sea and what appeared to be the drifting on its surface of half a dozen slouched hats in the direction of the alders.

There was no longer any doubt; a party from the other side was approaching the border.
A shout and the quick galloping of hoofs behind her sent a thrill of relief to her heart.