The old mountaineer lowered his voice.

"Ye hain't thinkin' about takin' a wife, air ye?"

"No, no!"

" Well, ef ye air," said the old man, slowly, "I'm a-thinkin' yu'll
have to buck up ag'in Sherd Raines, fer ef I hain't like a goose
a-pickin' o' grass by moonshine, Sherd air atter the gal fer hisself,
not fer the Lord. Yes," he continued, after a short, dry laugh; "'n'
mebbe ye'll hav to keep an eye open fer old Bill. They say that he
air mighty low down, 'n' kind o' sorry 'n' skeery, for I reckon Sherd
Raines hev told him he hav got to pay the penalty fer takin' a
human life; but I wouldn't sot much on his bein' sorry ef he was
mad at me and had licker in him. He hates furriners, and he has a
crazy idee that they is all raiders 'n' lookin' fer him."

"I don't think I'll bother him," said Clayton, turning away with a
laugh. "Good-night t" With a little cackle of incredulity, the old
man closed the door. The camp had sunk now to perfect quiet; but
for the faint notes of a banjo far up the glen, not a sound trembled
on the night air.

The rim of the moon was just visible above the mountain on which
Easter-what a pretty name that was !-had flashed upon his vision
with such theatric effect. As its brilliant light came slowly down
the dark mountain-side, the mists seemed to loosen their white
arms, and to creep away like ghosts mistaking the light for dawn.
With the base of the mountain in dense shadow, its crest, uplifted
through the vapors, seemed poised in the air at a startling height.