doubtless been devised, to terrify him, by some one who knew of his
mission, and that he could not return except by this route.

Only for a moment did he feel uncertain as to the ghost-maker's
identity. There was something singularly familiar to him in the
plaid of the shawl--even in the appearance of the bonnet, although
it was now limp and damp. He saw it at "meet'n" whenever the
circuit rider preached, and he presently recognized it. This was
Mrs. Dicey's bonnet!

His face hardened. He set his teeth together. An angry flush
flared to the roots of his hair.

Not that he suspected the widow of having set this trap to frighten
him. He was not learned, nor versed in feminine idiosyncrasies, but
it does not require much wisdom to know that on no account whatever
does a woman's best bonnet stay out all night in the dew,
intentionally. The presence of her bonnet proved the widow's alibi.

Like a flash he remembered Birt's anger the previous day. "Told me
he'd make me divide work mo' ekal, an' ez good ez said he'd knock me
down ef he could. An' I told him I'd hold the grudge agin him jes'
the same--an' I will!"

He felt sure that it was Birt who had thus taken revenge, because he
was kept at work while his fellow-laborer was free to go.

Byers thought the boy would presently come to take the garments
home, and conceal his share in the matter, before any one else would
be likely to stir abroad.