short.

Shet up! " cried the boy, sharply, and he sat a moment silent.
"You've been a-spyin' on us sence I was borned, Eli," he said,
reflectively.

"I believe ye lay-wayed dad. Y'u spied on Rome. Y'u told the
soldiers whar he was a-hidin' Y'u tried to shoot him from the
bresh. Y'u found out Steve was goin' to Breathitt on Sunday, 'n'
you've jes made a blind to shoot him in the back. I reckon thar's no
meanness ye hain't done. Dad's al'ays said ye sot a snare fer a
woman once-a woman! Y'u loaded a musket with slugs, 'n' tied a
string to the trigger, 'n' stretched hit 'cross the path, 'n' y'u got up on
a cliff 'n' whistled to make her slow up jes when she struck the
string. I reckon thet's yer wust-but I don't know."

Several times Crump raised his hands in protest while his
arraignment was going on; several times he tried to speak, but his
lips refused utterance. The boy's voice was getting thicker and
thicker, and he was nervously working the cock of the big pistol up
and down.

"Cit up," he said; and Crump rose with a spring. The lad's tone
meant release.

"You hain't wuth the risk. I hain't goin' ter kill ye. I jus' wanted ter
banter ye 'n' make ye beg. You're a good beggar, Eli, 'n' a powerful
prayer. You'll be a shinin' light in the chu'ch, ef ye gits a chance ter
shine long. Fer lemme tell ye, nobody ever ketched ye afore. But
you're ketched now, an' I'm goin' to tell Steve. He'll be a-watchin'