fer ye, 'n' so 'll I. I tell ye in time, ef ye ever come over hyeh agin
as long as you live, you'll never git back alive. Turn roun'! Hev ye
got any balls? " he asked, feeling in Crump's pockets for cartridges.
" No; well -he picked up the Winchester and pumped the magazine
empty-" I'll keep these," he said, handing Crump the empty rifle.
"Now git away-an' git away quick!

Crump's slouching footsteps went out of hearing, and Isom sat
where he was. His elbows dropped to his knees. His face dropped
slowly into his hands, and the nettles of remorse began to sting.
He took the back of one tremulous hand presently to wipe the
perspiration from his forehead, and he found it burning. A sharp
pain shot through his eyes. He knew what that meant, and feeling
dizzy, he rose and started a little blindly towards home.

Old Gabe was waiting for him. He did not answer the old man's
querulous inquiry, but stumbled towards a bed. An hour later,
when the miller was rubbing his forehead, he opened his eyes, shut
them, and began to talk.

"I reckon I hain't much better 'n Eli, Und' Gabe," he said,
plaintively. "I've been abusin' him down thar in the woods. I come
might' nigh killin' him onct." The old man stroked on, scarcely
heeding the boy's words, so much nonsense would he talk when ill.

I've been lyin' to ye, Unci' Gabe, 'n' a-deceivin' of ye right along.
Steve's a-goin' atter ole Brayton-I'm goin' too-Steve didn't kill
Jass-hit wusn't Steve-hit wusn't Rome-hit was-" The last word
stopped behind his shaking lips; he rose suddenly in bed, looked
wildly into the miller's startled face, and dropping with a sob to the