person--"

"Get down!" said one of the men briefly.

"I haven't any money, that's why I say you have hold of the wrong
person."

"We don't want your money." The unexpectedness of this reply
somewhat disturbed Norton.

"What do you want, then?" he asked.

"We got a word to say to you."

"I can hear it in the saddle."

"Get down!" repeated the man, a surly, bull-necked fellow.
"Come--hurry up!" he added.

Norton hesitated for an instant, then swung himself out of the
saddle and stood in the road confronting the spokesman of the
party.

"Now, what do you wish to say to me?" he asked.

"Just this--you keep away from Belle Plain."

"You go to hell!" said Norton promptly. The man glowered heavily
at hire through the gathering gloom of twilight.