noon
He met with no other adventure that day . He followed Stackridge 's directions implicitly , and at evening , leaving his horse tied in the woods , approached on foot the house to which he had been sent . He was cordially received by the same old man whom he had seen riding to town in the morning with a bright-faced girl clinging behind him . At a hint from Stackridge the man had hastily ridden home again , passing Penn at noon while he lay hidden in the woods ; and here he was , honest , friendly , vigilant , to receive and protect his guest . `` You did well , '' he said , `` to turn off up the mountain ; for I am not the only man that passed you there . You have been pursued . Three persons have gone on after you .