"Not a soul," answered the other. "Did you meet someone down the
road?"

The big man looked at the shepherd hard before he answered, in a
half-frightened, half-bullying tone, "I seed something in th' road
yonder, an' hit disappeared right by th' old shack under th'
bluffs." He twisted around in his saddle again, facing the cliff
with its dense shadows and dim twilight forms, as he muttered, "If
I was only right sure, I--" Then swinging back he leaned toward
the man on the ground; "Look a here, Mister. There's them that
'lows there's things in this here Holler t' be afeared of, an' I
reckon hit's so. There's sure been hell t' pay at that there cabin
down yonder. I ain't a sayin' what hit was I seed, but if hit war
anywhere else, I'd a said hit was a man; but if hit was a man, I
don't know why you didn't see him when he come past; er else
you're a lyin'. I jest want t' tell you, you're right smart of a
stranger in these here parts, even if you have bean a workin' for
Ol' Matt all summer. You're too blame careful 'bout talkin' 'bout
yourself, or tellin' whar you come from, t' suit some folks. Some
strangers are alright, an' again some ain't. But we don't aim t'
have nobody in this here neighborhood what jumps into th' brush
when they see an honest man a comin'."

As he finished speaking, Gibbs straightened himself in the saddle,
and before Mr. Howitt could reply, the dun mule, at a touch of the
spur, had dashed away up the road in the direction taken by Sammy
Lane.

It was quite dark in the heavy timber of the Hollow by the time