It was no use for her to tell him that soldiers made their own
beds and washed their own dishes, for his short answer was:

"Mebbe they had to, 'cause thar wasn't no women folks around, but
he didn't," and his face was so hopelessly set and stubborn that
she handed him the old gun without another word. For a moment he
hesitated, lifting his solemn eyes to hers. "I want you to know
I'm much obleeged," he said. Then he turned away, and St. Hilda
saw him mount his old nag, climb the ridge opposite without
looking back, and pass over the summit.

Old Jason Hawn was sitting up in a chair when two days later
disgusted little Jason rode up to his gate.

"They wanted me to do a gal's work over thar," he explained
shortly, and the old man nodded grimly with sympathy and
understanding.

"I was lookin' fer ye to come back."

Old Aaron Honeycutt had been winged through the shoulder while the
lad was away and the feud score had been exactly evened by the
ambushing of another of the tribe. On this argument Arch Hawn was
urging a resumption of the truce, but both clans were armed and
watchful and everybody was looking for a general clash on the next
county-court day. The boy soon rose restlessly.

"Whar you goin'?"

"I'm a-goin' to look atter my corn."