she got to singin'. Hit wusn't nuthin' anybody thar'd ever heerd; but
some o' the women folks was a snifflin' 'fore she got through. He
pitched right into the feud, as he calls hit, 'n' the sin o' sheddin'
human blood, I tell ye; 'n' 'twixt him and the soldiers I reckon thar
won't be no more fightin' in Breathitt. He says, 'n' he always says it
mighty loud "-Crump raised his own voice-" thet the man as kills
his feller-critter hev some day got ter give up his own blood, sartin
'n' shore."

It was old Gabe's pet theory, and he was nodding approval. The
boy's parted lips shook with a spasm of fear, and were as quickly
shut tight with suspicion. Steve raised his head as though he too
had heard the voice, and looked stupidly about him.

I tol' him," Crump went on, " thet things was already a-gettin' kind
o' frolicsome round hyeh agin; thet the Marcums 'n' Braytons was
a-takin' up the ole war, 'n' would be a-plunkin' one 'nother every
time they got together, 'n' a-gittin' the whole country in fear 'n'
tremblin' -now thet Steve Marcum had come back."

Steve began to scowl and a vixenish smile hovered at Isom's lips.

He knows mighty well-fer I tol' him-thet thar hain't a wuss man in
all these mountains than thet very Steve-" The name ended in a
gasp, and the wizened gossip was caught by the throat and tossed,
chair and all, into a corner of the mill.

None o' that, Steve! " called the miller, sternly. "Not hyeh. Don't
hurt him now!