He was momently in terror of arrest, and he often pondered on Nate's
uncharacteristic forbearance. Perhaps Nate was afraid that Birt's
story, told from the beginning in court, might constrain belief and
affect the validity of the entry.

Birt vainly speculated, too, upon the strange disappearance of the
grant. There it was in the pocket of the coat late that night, and
the next morning early--gone!

Sometimes he suspected that Nate had only made a pretense of losing
the grant, in order to accuse him and prejudice public opinion
against him, so that he might not be believed should he claim the
discovery of the mineral down the ravine.

His mother sought to keep him from dwelling upon his troubles. "We
won't cross the bredge till we git thar," she said. "Mebbe thar
ain't none ahead." But her fears for his sake tortured her silent
hours when he was away. When he came back from his work, there
always awaited him a bright fire, a good supper, and cheerful words
as well, although these were the most difficult to prepare. The
dogs bounded about him, Tennessee clung to his hand, the boys were
hilarious and loud.

By reason of their mother's silence on the subject, that Birt might
be better able to go, and work, and hold up his head among the men
who suspected him, the children for a time knew nothing of what had
happened.

Now Rufe, although his faults were many and conspicuous, was not
lacking in natural affection. Had he understood that a cloud