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| Chapter I—Excitement in the Foothills | 11 |
| Washington Washington's music is rudely interrupted. The revenge of an outraged mule. "Why dat fool mule kick me?" Hippy airs his knowledge of woodcraft. "Laundry" puts the Overland camp in an uproar. |
Chapter II—The Mystery Man | 25 |
| "Dis am de sebbenth yeah." The Spectacle Man introduces himself. The voice from the wilderness. The visitor gives the Overland Riders a word of advice. Mystified by an appearance and a disappearance. |
Chapter III—Hippy Bounces the "Shereef" | 32 |
| Overlanders ordered to leave the mountains at once. Hippy Wingate's smile grows into a frown. A bullet that missed its mark. Grace Harlowe steps on Washington's neck and starts an uproar. A mysterious shot wings the mountaineer. |
Chapter IV—Footprints in the Moss | 42 |
| The Mystery Man slips away unobserved. The Overlanders led to wonder. Tom Gray utters a warning. Washington gets another scare. The prowler leaves a trail. Revolver shots stir the Overland Riders to action. "That's Grace's weapon!" cries Lieutenant Wingate. |
Chapter V—The Way is Barred | 52 |
| "Halt! Who comes?" Grace Harlowe slightly wounded. Hippy, in search of her, loses himself. Grace tells of her duel in the bush. The Overlanders are sternly halted and ordered to go back. A shot and a command. Hippy's hat is shot off. |
Chapter VI—Hippy Mysteriously Disappears | 61 |
| Overlanders throw up their hands. Nora tweaks a mountaineer's nose, and boxes his ears. Tables turned on a mountain ruffian. A night prowler frightened away by a shot. "Hurry, Grace! Hippy has gone!" cries Elfreda Briggs in a thrilling voice. |
Chapter VII—A Voice from the Shadows | 74 |
| The search for Hippy Wingate is begun. Significant trail-signs are discovered. Grace Harlowe makes a find. "Hippy's hat!" gasps Miss Briggs. A mysterious message is tossed into the Overland camp at night. The girls are encouraged by a comforting word. |
Chapter VIII—A Friend in Need | 87 |
| Hippy, awakening, finds himself a captive. A grilling ride on horseback. Captors question and threaten their prisoner. Sight of food makes Hippy sad. "Don't make a sound, Lieutenant," warns a friendly voice. "There's a price on your head!" |
Chapter IX—The Power of Mind | 99 |
| "I didn't con-centrate for nothing," declares Emma Dean. Grace finds and loses the trail. Elfreda fires at a noise. "Cut the gun!" howls Hippy Wingate. "The mountaineers are after us!" Lieutenant Wingate's rescuer advises the party to move at once. |
Chapter X—"They've Got the Boy!" | 107 |
| "Two skips an' er jump" to their destination. Washington's howls arouse the Overland camp. The colored boy suddenly disappears. The night vigil of the Overland Riders is broken by a shock. |
Chapter XI—"A Marked Man" | 114 |
| "Hold your fire!" orders Lieutenant Wingate. Washington Washington flounders into camp. "All this scare for a black nightmare," groans Emma. The "rural free delivery man" makes an early call. Another mystery for the Overland Riders to solve. |
Chapter XII—A Mountain Mystery | 121 |
| A message and a postscript. Miss Briggs says she will show her companions. Camp is made on the Thompson farm. Julie calls to look the Overlanders over. Invited to a mountain dance. Hippy makes a trouble-forecast. |
Chapter XIII—Three Men in the Cornfield | 132 |
| Washington says he "sawed" a man. Jeremiah makes a call on the Overland camp. How the Spectacle Man "fits" glasses. The "benefactor of all mankind" suddenly changes his mind. "Two dollars, please." |
Chapter XIV—Elfreda Distinguishes Herself | 140 |
| The Mystery Man makes a pun. Jeremiah "rolls" out of camp. Elfreda discovers a bear. "He is eating up our food." With the bear's assistance Miss Briggs succeeds in lassoing him. The Overland camp turned into turmoil. |
Chapter XV—When Emma Said Too Much | 148 |
| Young Bruin upsets the entire Overland party. "Quick! Get her loose!" Hippy kills and dresses the bear. Footprints in the cornfield. A stranger comes to call and fills up on bear meat. "I'm the game constable! Where's the bear?" he demands sternly. |
Chapter XVI—A Joke on the Overlanders | 162 |
| "No one ain't allowed to have bear meat till December." Overland Riders are told that they are under arrest. Hippy knocks out the "constable" and brings him to with a pail of water. "I'll give you ten seconds to get out of camp!" |
Chapter XVII—The Dance at Coon Hollow | 168 |
| Hippy declares he is not getting sufficient nourishment. Gay mountain folk gather at the schoolhouse. Washington's music not appreciated. Emma Dean lays the foundation for a "riot." Hippy makes a disheartening discovery. |
Chapter X
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