Still he decided to try it, for, somehow or other, the conviction was strong with him that danger lurked among the shadows.

He turned about to retrace his steps for a short way, before leaving the road, when he stopped short, hardly repressing a gasp of affright.
He saw the unmistakable outlines of a man in the gloom, only a short distance behind him.

Afraid to meet him face to face, Tom turned back and resumed his walk along the highway.
"When I get along a little farther," was his thought, "I'll slip over the fence among the trees and dodge him." He began walking fast, continually glancing over his shoulder.

His alarm increased upon discovering that the man had also quickened his footsteps, so that instead of holding his place, the pursuer, as he may be considered, was gaining.
The fact that not the slightest sound disturbed the stillness added to the oppression of the situation.

The lad was on the point of breaking into a run, when the man, who was one of the tramps before referred to, called out,-- "Hold on there, sonny! don't be in such a hurry." This salutation was not calculated to soothe Tom's agitation, and without any reply he started on a loping trot, still keeping his attention to the rear, and prepared to break into a dead run the moment it became necessary.