began to cut carefully away the spreading top of a bush that grew
on the other side. Isom crawled down towards him like a lizard,
from tree to tree. A moment later the spy was filling up the
crevice with stones, and Isom knew what he was about; he was
making a "blind" to waylay Steve, who, the boy knew, was going
to Breathitt by that road the next Sunday. How did Crump know
that-how did he know everything? The crevice filled, Crump cut
branches and stuck them between the rocks. Then he pushed his
rifle through the twigs, and taking aim several times, withdrew it.
When he turned away at last and started down to the road, he
looked back once more, and Isom saw him grinning. Almost
chuckling in answer, the lad slipped around the knob to the road
the other way, and Crump threw up his gun with a gasp of fright
when a figure rose out of the dusk before him.

Hol' on, Eli ! " said Isom, easily. " Don't git skeered! Hit's nobody
but me. Whar ye been?"

Crump laughed, so quick was he disarmed of suspicion. " Jes up
the river a piece to see Aunt Sally Day. She's a fust cousin o' mine
by marriage.

Jsom's right hand was slipping back as if to rest on his hip. "D'you
say you'd been 'convicted,' Eli?

Crump's answer was chantlike. "Yes, Lawd reckon I have."

Goin' to stop all o' yer lyin', air ye, ' Isom went on, in the same
tone, and Crump twitched as though struck suddenly from behind,
"an' stealin' 'n' lay-wayin'?"