scarcely muffled their loud voices.

"Well, old woman," exclaimed one in voice so gruff as to seem almost
assumed, "pretending to be alone, are you, with all those dishes
sitting out on the table; just been eaten off, too. Haven't seen no
strange party along the road this morning, have ye?"

"Nary a one," said Maria, and I knew from her voice she was standing
close beside the fireplace.

"Are you Mrs. Bungay?"

"I reckon I am, if it's any o' yer business."

"Don't git hifty, old woman, or we 're liable to give you a lesson in
politeness before we leave." The leader dropped the butt of his gun
with a crash on the floor. "Where is the little sneak, anyhow?"

"What do you want of him?"

"Want him to go 'long with us; we 're hunting some parties, and need a
guide. They tol' us up the road a bit he knew every inch o' these yere
mountings."

There was a pause, as if Maria was endeavoring to decide as to the
honesty of the speaker. Her final answer proved the mental survey had
not proven satisfactory.

"Wal, I reckon," she said calmly, "as you uns 'll be more likely ter
find him down 'bout Connersville."