The men did know, but in fresh anger they leaned forward in their
chairs, and twisted about with smothered curses. The old woman
had stopped smoking, and was rocking her body to and fro. Her
lips were drawn in upon her toothless gums, and her pipe was
clinched against her sunken breast. The head of the old
mountaineer was lifted, and his eyes were open and shining
fiercely.

"I hear as how he says I'm gone fer good. Well, I have been kinder
easy-goin', hatin' to fight, but sence the day I seed Rome's dad thar
dead in his blood, I hev had jes one thing I wanted to do. Thar
wasn't no use stayin' hyeh; I seed that. Rome thar was too leetle,
and they was too many fer me. I knowed it was easier to git a new
start out West, 'n' when I come back to the mount'in, hit was to do
jes-whut I'm - going - to - do - now." He wheeled suddenly upon
Rome, with one huge hand lifted. Under it the old woman's voice
rose in a sudden wail:

Yes; 'n' I want to see it done befoh I die. I hain't hyeh fer long, but I
hain't goin' to leave as long as ole Jas is hyeh, 'n' I want ye all to
know it. Ole Jas hev got to go fust. You hear me, Rome? I'm
a-talkin' to you; I'm a-talkin' to you. Hit's yo' time now!

The frenzied chant raised Rome from his chair. Rufe himself took
up the spirit of it, and his voice was above all caution.

"Yes, Rome! They killed him, boy. They sneaked on him, 'n' shot
him to pieces from the bushes. Yes; hit's yo' time now! Look
hyeh, boys! " He reached above the fireplace and took down an
old rifle-his brother's-which the old mother had suffered no one to