There were no signs of habitations, until we rounded the edge of a small grove, and came suddenly upon a little village of a dozen houses on either side the highway.

These were wrapped in darkness, apparently deserted, shapeless appearing structures, although I thought one had the appearance of a tavern, and another seemed a store.

There was a well in front of this last, and water sparkled in a log trough beside it.

My horse stopped, burying his nostrils in the water, and, suddenly made aware of my own thirst, I swung, down from the saddle.

My hands were upon the well-rope when, without warning, I was gripped from behind, and flung down into the dirt of the road.