grandson of Uncle Sammy Bellamy, the patriarch of Scratch Hill.
Mr. Yancy forbore to interrupt this enterprise which he
considered of some educational value, since the ground-hog's hole
was an old one and he was reasonably certain that a family of
skunks had taken possession of it. When Yancy reached the Cross
Roads, Crenshaw gave him a disquieting opinion as to the probable
contents of his letter, for he himself had heard from Bladen that
he had decided to assume the care of the boy.

"So you reckon it was that--" said Yancy, with a deep breath.

"It's a blame outrage, Bob, fo' him to act like this!" said the
merchant with heat.

"When do you reckon he's going to send fo' him?" asked Yancy.

"Whenever the notion strikes him."

"What about my having notions too?" inquired Yancy, flecked into
passion, and bringing his fist down on the counter with a crash.

"You surely ain't going to oppose him, Bob?"

"Does he say when he's going to send fo' my nevvy ?"

"He says it will be soon."

"You take care of my mule, Mr. John," said Yancy, and turned his
back on his friend.