were much alike. Both had the same black, threatening brows
meeting over the bridge of the nose. A kind of grim humor lurked
about the old man's mouth, which time might trace about young
Jasper's. The girl's face had no humor; the same square brows,
apart and clearly marked, gave it a strong, serious cast, and while
she had the Lewallen fire, she favored her mother enough, so the
neighbors said, "to have a mighty mild, takin' way about her ef she
wanted."

You're right, Jas," the old mountaineer said; "the hoss air a sin 'n'
temptation. Hit do me good ever' time I look at him. Thar air no
sech hoss, I tell ye, this side o' the settlements."

The boy started away, and the old man followed, and halted him
out of the girl's hearing.

"Tell Eli Crump 'n' Jim Stover to watch the Breathitt road close
now," he said, in a low voice. " See all them citizens I tol' ye, 'n'
tell 'em to be ready when I says the word. Thar's no tellin' whut's
goin' to happen."

Young Jasper nodded his head, and struck his horse into a gallop.
The old man lighted his pipe, and turned back to the house. The
girl, bonnet in hand, was starting for the valley.

"Thar ain't no use goin' to Gabe Bunch's fer yer grist," he said. "
The mill on Dead Crick's a-runnin' ag'in, 'n' I don't want ye over
thar axin favors, specially jes now."

"I lef' somethin' fer ye to eat, dad," she replied, " ef ye gits hungry