When Gilbert went to bring Roger, who had quietly waited at the crossing
of the roads, Deb. Smith suddenly made her appearance.

"I seen it all," she said. "I was a bit up the road, but I seen it. You
shouldn't ha' shot, Mr. Gilbert, though it isn't him that's born to be
hit with a bullet; but _you_'re safe enough from _his_ bullets, anyhow--
whatever happens, _you_'re safe!"

"What do you mean, Deborah?" he exclaimed, as she almost repeated to him
Sandy Flash's very words.

"I mean what I say," she answered. "_You_ wouldn't be afeard, but it'll
be a comfort to your mother. I must have a drink o' whiskey after that
sight."

With these words she elbowed her way into the barroom. Most of the
Kennett Volunteers were there engaged in carrying out a similar
resolution. They would gladly have kept the whole occurrence secret, but
that was impossible. It was known all over the country, in three days,
and the story of it has not yet died out of the local annals.




CHAPTER XIX.

THE HUSKING FROLIC.


Jake Fairthorn rushed into Dr. Deane's door with a howl of terror.