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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/33829-h.zip b/33829-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2888c41 --- /dev/null +++ b/33829-h.zip diff --git a/33829-h/33829-h.htm b/33829-h/33829-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..34403a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/33829-h/33829-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4725 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Nightriders' Feud, by Walter C. Mcconnell. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Nightrider's Feud, by Walter C. McConnell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Nightrider's Feud + +Author: Walter C. McConnell + +Release Date: October 2, 2010 [EBook #33829] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NIGHTRIDER'S FEUD *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Kentuckiana Digital Library) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h1>The Nightriders' Feud</h1> + +<h2>By Walter C. McConnell</h2> + + +<h3>NEW YORK<br /> +THE COSMOPOLITAN PRESS<br /> +1912</h3> + +<h3>Copyright, 1912, by<br /> +Walter C. McCONNELL</h3> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Nightriders' Feud</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + + +<p>John Redmond, the second, had just completed his education in a New York +college, having been graduated with high honors, and was therefore +prepared to go out into the world and set it on fire with his +brilliancy. But the call of the great business world was strangely +superseded by the "call of the wild," which had long since taken firm +hold upon his young heart. Since his earliest recollections his soul had +longed to go out into the wild Western country, and he was now fully +determined to appease his adventurous appetite amid the great wild +mountains of the West.</p> + +<p>Thoughts concerning his future flitted fast through his study-ladened +brain as the train sped on toward his home. Yes, he would go to the +mountains and seek gold or coal where others, with less ability to find, +had passed over the immense wealth which must surely lie hid deep +beneath the great earthen mounds. This wealth, he thought, had been +placed there by the Maker of the mighty earth, that his great skill as +an engineer might be made known to the world. It was there for his own +pleasure; it had not been intended that others should make the +discovery. His training would enable him to make discoveries which +others had not been skillful enough to make. The life would be just to +his liking, and would fill a long-felt desire to invade the bowels of +the hitherto uninvaded depths of rocky earth. It was not his intention +to delay one moment; he would go at once.</p> + +<p>The train sped on, and he reached his home in good time. There he was +greeted with the sad news that his uncle, John Redmond, for whom he was +named, had been slain by murderous Nightriders over in the valley of +Kentucky. His tobacco crop had been utterly destroyed, his barns and +out-houses devastated, his home burned to the earth, and as he was +fleeing from the burning building, in an effort to save himself from a +torturous death, he had been shot down in his tracks like a dog, a +forty-four Winchester bullet tearing his heart to pieces.</p> + +<p>What more would man need to set his soul on fire? What more would he +need to raise his ire to the verge of distraction?</p> + +<p>John Redmond, the second, stood with bowed head, listening to the +terrible outrage; his Southern blood warmed to the boiling point. His +heart beat fast, his teeth came together with a sharp noise, and his +fists were tightly clenched. Revenge burned within him, his soul felt +that the foul deed called for vengeance. In a twinkling his plans were +changed. His adventurous spirit told him that his life's work had been +found, that he must hie him to the country where his uncle had met such +a hasty and untimely death; that he must seek out those who had murdered +him and revenge the cold deed.</p> + +<p>John Redmond had hardly known this uncle, having seen him only one time, +but he was a kinsman, the same blood ran through their veins, their +forefathers were the same, and he would be speedily avenged.</p> + +<p>The younger Redmond sent agents into Kentucky to purchase land, and in a +little while all preparations for a hasty departure had been made. The +cabin purchased needed repair, but that would be done with his own +hands. He would have plenty of time for all such work.</p> + +<p>His intention was to go over and raise tobacco in direct opposition to +the great association of good farmers. Let them do what they would, he +would show them that he was a man of his own notions, and no set of men +could run him, much less a body of uneducated "galoots."</p> + +<p>Next you see of John Redmond he is crossing the country by wagon train. +Slowly his caravan moves, finally reaching the place purchased for the +future home of this man of strong desires and peculiar aims. The +belongings were unloaded, and those who assisted him in the move bade +him a successful ending and returned to civilization. While John +Redmond, who introduced himself to this new country as "Jack Wade," was +making preparations for a comfortable living, the eyes of the +surrounding community were cast upon him. Slowly and untiringly he +labored for a few weeks, getting everything in comfortable condition, +seeking the assistance of the few loafing farmers, until matters were +fairly arranged and everything fixed up comfortably for bachelor +quarters.</p> + +<p>If one should have been standing on the hill at a time very near sunset +one afternoon, he could have seen Jack Wade, the graduate engineer, +standing at the bars or gate leading from his horse-lot to a plot of +ground used as a pasture for his one cow and one horse. He no longer has +the appearance of a soft-skinned school-boy, but rather is dark and +ruddy, the warm Kentucky sun having changed his complexion. He has on a +blue shirt, soft, with collar attached, high-top boots, into the legs +of which his corduroy pantaloons are stuffed, in the style of a true +Westerner. He has one foot resting upon the lower wire while his arms +fell loosely across the top wire. He is surveying with his keen dark eye +the surrounding country, not having had time heretofore to look about +him.</p> + +<p>Over yonder, about one mile to the south of him, is a farmhouse; over to +his right, and a little to the northwest, is another cabin. Behind him +looms up the huge mountain, amid whose rugged rocks and green shrubbery +much of his time will be spent. He turns and looks toward the mountain; +there he sees another cabin, or small house. It is the home of a tobacco +planter, who has one son and an only daughter.</p> + +<p>Nora Judson has many times looked longingly down the dusty road toward +the cabin of the newcomer and wondered what he was like. Her scheming +brain found a way by which she could tell.</p> + +<p>Twilight's shadows are drawing the day to a close. Down the cow-trodden +road can be seen an old brindle cow, coming leisurely, switching her +tail from one side to the other, nibbling the sweet tufts of grass along +the side of the trail. On she comes, until she passes the watcher and +goes out into the woodland just beyond.</p> + +<p>Wade watched the cow until she was out of sight, then he sighed.</p> + +<p>"It's going to be a fearful job," he said mentally, "but the thing +<i>shall</i> be done. Not one of them shall be left if God spares me long +enough to take them away."</p> + +<p>As the last words left his mind he glanced heavenward, as if to implore +the Almighty to aid him in a work which he honestly thought was for the +good of humanity at large and for God Himself. He was honestly convinced +that he was on an errand of great mercy, and the world would be made +better and humanity live more peaceably among themselves, and more godly +by the fulfillment of his plans.</p> + +<p>"Not one," he repeated, "not one shall be left to molest the peace of +the innocent ones in this great valley,"—he swept his hand about him +tragically,—"in this wonderful valley."</p> + +<p>He sighed again. The gloom of a departing day was gathering about him. +The lonesomeness of a twilight in the valley was making a deep +impression upon his young life and he was beginning to long for +companionship.</p> + +<p>The monotony of the hour was broken by the faint sound of a female voice +coming from toward the mountain, calling, "Soo-cow, soo-cow, sook-sook!" +The call came vibrating down through the valley to his listening ears. +Jack Wade's heart gave one joyful bound because a human being, and that +a girl, was near. Nearer and nearer came the call, until through the +gathering darkness could be seen the form of a valley maid. Soon she +hove into full view just up the road. On she came, calling the cow, +until she stood directly opposite Wade.</p> + +<p>Apparently she had not before noticed him standing beside the fence.</p> + +<p>"Good-evening," said Wade pleasantly. A lovely flush covered her dark +face.</p> + +<p>"Howdy?" she replied. Then falteringly, "Seen anything of a old brindle +cow down this away?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Wade. "She's just yonder in the woodland grazing leisurely. +I'll go fetch her for you."</p> + +<p>"Ye needn't be so kind," said the girl. "I kin git her myself. Much +obleeged."</p> + +<p>She started on, unmindful of his grateful glance, after the cow.</p> + +<p>"I'll go with you, if you don't mind," he said, "and show you where to +find her."</p> + +<p>She didn't mind, so Wade bolted, in athletic style, over the fence and +joined her.</p> + +<p>Old Peter Judson's daughter was a very beautiful girl. Jack looked into +her face,—he had nothing else to do just now,—and wondered how it was +possible that she could be so pretty. Though born and reared in the +valley, and having known nothing of the outside world, she was fearless +in speech and manner. Her form was indeed very fine for one who had not +the opportunities to gather grace, her voice was musically soft and +sweet, her face was delicately fair. She looked up into Wade's eyes with +an expression of earnestness that was almost an appeal.</p> + +<p>"Ye are the newcomer, ain't ye?" she asked, unabashed.</p> + +<p>"I've not been here a great many days," he replied thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Have ye come to stay?" she asked.</p> + +<p>The question was very direct, but Wade felt no uneasiness in replying +truthfully. He had come to stay so long as everything was pleasant for +him, otherwise he might pull up "stakes" and leave when he thought the +time was ripe.</p> + +<p>Her next question was even more direct. She stood for one moment, +surveying Wade casually.</p> + +<p>"Have ye come to raise terbacker?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No," he replied, "I shall raise tobacco but in small quantities, merely +as a pastime. I am here especially on account of my health."</p> + +<p>She surveyed him again, her large dark eyes going over him from head to +feet.</p> + +<p>"Ye don't look unhealthy."</p> + +<p>She was quite right. He did not look unhealthy. His large athletic frame +was not physically disabled.</p> + +<p>"No?" he questioned. "Well, I'm not quite dead."</p> + +<p>He laughed and so did she laugh, her silvery voice ringing out through +the fast gathering darkness.</p> + +<p>"There is your brindle cow," he said, pointing to the creature which +stood with neck bent, looking back at the two approaching figures.</p> + +<p>"Thank ye for bein' so kind," she said, looking up at him with a +grateful expression upon her countenance. Picking up a short piece of +broken tree limb she went round the cow, crying "Hooey-hooey!" and +striking her about the flanks. The cow, fully understanding what was +wanted of her, started back up the road toward home, while the girl +appeared to pay no further heed to Wade's presence, feeling that he had +done his full duty in locating the cow. However, the latter followed her +out of the woods, both of them trailing along slowly and silently behind +the cow.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to help you to get the runaway home," said Wade, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Ye needn't," she exclaimed; "I know the road all right," a little +sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"But I also want to learn it," he replied, not in the least rebuffed.</p> + +<p>"Ye might be losin' time for me, an' I don't want ye to do that," +tenderly.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather lose time assisting you than do anything else at this +moment."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she exclaimed, "ef ye want to learn the road, come on."</p> + +<p>Her face flushed. She felt it, but Wade could not penetrate the twilight +sufficiently to discern the crimson coloring.</p> + +<p>"I do want to," he said, "and I wish I had such a companion to show me +the way over the mountain and through the entire country."</p> + +<p>Unheeding this remark, she said, "Hit's a little lonely, livin' alone, +hain't it?"</p> + +<p>"It is while I am not very well acquainted with my neighbors, but I +shall become better acquainted soon. One cannot expect to be greatly +elated at once, or happy altogether, until he knows his neighbors well."</p> + +<p>"Nice folks 'round here," she replied. "Once you git to know them you +are sure to like them."</p> + +<p>There came a moment of silence.</p> + +<p>"Do you live in the house toward the mountain?" asked Wade.</p> + +<p>"That's Dad's house. I live there—have lived there for many years."</p> + +<p>"You are very fond of the hills and ravines, I presume?"</p> + +<p>"An' the brooks. They are the only companions I have ever known, except +my brother, an' he's been in the saddle ever since I was old enough to +have companions, or remember anything. They are my friends,—the cow and +the dog, the chickens an' the geese, the ducks an' the turkeys, an' even +the grunting pigs, are the only friends I have ever known."</p> + +<p>"What a terribly lonesome life that seems to have been."</p> + +<p>"Not to me; it has been a happy one."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, I should not have spoken that way."</p> + +<p>"Hit don't make any difference how you speak," she said independently. +"We are used to everything here."</p> + +<p>"Who lives yonder to the south of us?" asked Wade, pointing in the +direction indicated.</p> + +<p>"Jim Thompson. He's a terbacker raiser, too."</p> + +<p>"And who to the west yonder?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's the place where old John Redmond lived. It's not used now."</p> + +<p>There was a tinge of sorrow in the girl's voice as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"What became of old John Redmond?" asked Wade, his own voice quivering.</p> + +<p>"Don't ye know, hain't ye heerd?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't heard anything yet; haven't been here long enough to learn +much."</p> + +<p>This untruth brought a flush over Jack Wade's face, but it was not seen +by the girl, the darkness being too deep.</p> + +<p>"He was killed by the Nightriders," she said, choking; "shot to death +when his home was burned."</p> + +<p>"So that's the course pursued with a fellow here, is it?" Wade's lips +curled scornfully.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes, an' sometimes they don't. It's accordin' to what the other +feller is about."</p> + +<p>"What has a fellow to do to bring about such an end as that served out +to old John Redmond?"</p> + +<p>"Nuthin'. Old John didn't do nuthin'; that's what the trouble was."</p> + +<p>"Who are the Nightriders?" asked Wade, after a moment's thought.</p> + +<p>"Say, stranger," said the girl at this juncture, and evasively, "here's +my home, an' ye better git now. Ef Dad ketches ye here he mou't do to ye +like them fellers done old John Redmond, so I says much obleege fer +helpin' me fetch the old brindle cow home."</p> + +<p>"I'll help <i>you</i> any time I can," he said.</p> + +<p>"Thank ye," she held out her hand shyly. Jack Wade held it in his own, +pressing it tenderly, until she pulled it away from him.</p> + +<p>"Good-by," she said softly.</p> + +<p>"Good-by," he returned, and then turned to face the lonesome gloom.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + + +<p>As Jack Wade faced about to return to his own cabin he saw a lone +horseman coming up the road toward him, riding very rapidly, which was a +custom in the country. No one ever rode slowly.</p> + +<p>Remembering the girl's remarks of warning, he concluded it the height of +wisdom to be seen as little as possible lurking around the vicinity, as +he was in the community for an avowed purpose and he must be very +cautious in order to fulfill his mission. He therefore stepped back into +the shadow of a friendly bush and allowed the horseman to gallop by +without discovering him. He turned and watched the rider, until he +entered the gate through which the girl had driven the cow a few moments +before. A sudden impulse seized him to creep back under the shadow of +the trees and learn what he might from the conversation which he could +now hear but faintly. This being a very dangerous proceeding, his mind +was changed. He did not feel that he was thoroughly enough acquainted +with the surroundings nor the people and their customs, and would take +no chances until he should know more clearly what he was about—until he +became more accustomed to everything and everybody.</p> + +<p>The horseman he had seen was none other than Tom Judson, brother of the +girl he had assisted in locating the cow. Tom rode into the lot, jumped +from his horse in true Western style, threw the reins of his bridle over +the saddle-horn, rapped the horse over the hips with his gloves, and +walked on behind him to the barn. Nora was now milking the old brindle +cow, and her father was inside the barn putting feed into the trough for +the stock.</p> + +<p>"Peers ye air mighty late git'n' yer milkin' done," said Tom. "What's +ther matter of ye?"</p> + +<p>He tapped the girl upon the head with the finger end of his glove, and +he tapped her again because she made no immediate reply.</p> + +<p>"Reckon I hain't no later git'n' hit done than ye are a git'n' home, +seein' as how I'm most done now," she replied.</p> + +<p>"Milkin' a cow hain't nuthin' like takin' a day fer to ride over the +country a givin' warnin's."</p> + +<p>"What ye warnin' 'bout now, Tom?" she asked, with much interest.</p> + +<p>"Go 'long, gal. Ye ain't been raised in this country fer nothin'! Ye +know what I've been warnin' 'bout well 'nough, 'thout axin' me. They's +a-goin' ter be hell raised in this country to-night. That's what I've +been warnin' 'bout. Now do ye know, durn ye!"</p> + +<p>"I reckon I do. Who's a-goin' ter git it this time?"</p> + +<p>"Aw, ye want to know too much all to once. Jest wait 'til ye see ther +blaze 'long erbout midnight, an' ye'll know all ye want to know."</p> + +<p>"I mout be asleep then." Nora spoke feelingly. She desired to know more, +but hesitated to ask direct questions.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Tom, "I reckon ye will be asleep when ye think somethin's +a-goin' to be a-doin'. Them durn big black eyes of yourn'll see +everything in the whole blame valley afore mornin'. Ye kin see plum +through ther mountain when ye want to, an' they'll be a plenty fer you +ter see to-night, an' ther newcomer——!" Tom stopped suddenly and Nora +looked hastily up, inquiringly, hoping to hear him finish the sentence, +but he spoke never another word.</p> + +<p>"What's hit about ther newcomer, Tom?" she asked after a moment's +hesitation.</p> + +<p>"Nuthin'. What'd ye keer if hit was anything about him?"</p> + +<p>"I don't; but ye was about ter say somethin' about him. That's why I +axed ye. I don't keer nothin' about him no mor'n anybody else." Nora did +have some anxiety about his safety, however, but she did not wish to +show this to Tom. She knew her brother's failing.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Tom slowly, "seein' as how ye don't keer, I was a-goin' ter +say that he'd git his fill of peekin' 'round here afore he's many days +older, d'ye hear me?"</p> + +<p>Nora did hear, and felt a pang peculiarly new to her pass over her +heart. Having now finished milking the old brindle cow, she raised up, +gave her a kick on the legs, and poured the milk into a larger pail +conveniently near. For one moment she studied the features of her +brother, then spoke to him tenderly.</p> + +<p>"Now, Tom," she said, "what has ther newcomer done that ye've got it in +fer him?"</p> + +<p>"Nuthin'," sullenly. "Nuthin' 'tall. Thought ye didn't keer so much +'bout him?"</p> + +<p>"I don't."</p> + +<p>"Then ye air mighty interested in somethin' down that away. What made ye +ax me that fer?"</p> + +<p>"Aw, go 'long, will ye? Ef ye don't know nuthin', keep yer lips +buttoned; ef ye know somethin', tell it, an' don't be so tight with yer +knowin's."</p> + +<p>"Ye air sassy, sis. Well, they hain't nuthin' ther matter with him, but +he acts like he mout do somethin' ef he hain't checked fust. Ef he opens +his mouth too much 'round here ye know good an' well what mout happen +ter him putty quick, don't ye?"</p> + +<p>Tom gave Nora a slap in the face and followed on after his horse.</p> + +<p>Old Peter Judson came out of the barn and, upon seeing Tom, asked if he +had given the warning to everybody. He had, he said, "and what's more, +everybody'd be thar."</p> + +<p>Nora took up her milk pails and hurried into the house, where she found +her mother busily engaged in getting supper on the table. After +straining the milk and putting it away in its accustomed place, she +assisted her mother in the work.</p> + +<p>Silence prevailed within her soul. Not a word escaped her lips as she +busied herself over the meal. Somehow she felt a strange foreboding. Her +heart was full of thought for the safety of the newcomer, in whom she +felt a peculiar interest.</p> + +<p>He, not at all like other men she had known, had spoken kind words to +her, and they touched a tender spot in her heart. He had assisted her to +find the old brindle cow and had helped to drive her home. What was it +that attracted this wild flower of the mountain to this man? And what +was it that caused the unhappy throb when Tom remarked concerning him? +These remarks were anything but reassuring. She worked on amid her +soliloquy.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Judson could not refrain from remarking the contrast between this +thoughtful girl and her own Nora.</p> + +<p>"Ye air mighty quiet, Nora," she said, her face drawn up gingerly. +"What's ther matter of ye, that yer tongue hain't a-waggin' as usual?"</p> + +<p>Nora stood for one moment thoughtfully pondering, while she deftly +dried, for the third time, the saucer which she held in her hand, then +throwing the dish towel over her shoulder, she faced her mother.</p> + +<p>"Cain't a feller be quiet 'thout somebody a-thinkin' somethin's wrong?"</p> + +<p>She was smiling deeply, the dimples in her cheeks showing beautifully.</p> + +<p>"Not 'round this hyar kintry," replied Mrs. Judson. "Ye know yerself +that when everythings quiet like 'round this hill somethin's 'bout ter +happen. Now what does ail ye? What is ther matter with yer?"</p> + +<p>"Tom says theys a-goin' ter be doin's 'round here to-night," replied +Nora, "an' I reckon he knows, ef anybody does."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Judson now assumed an air of utter silence. She knew full well that +her daughter spoke the truth, that when Tom said that something was +likely to happen about the valley it usually did happen, and very soon +thereafter.</p> + +<p>Tom and his father came into supper and ate quietly, while the women +served them, this being the custom in this country. The fact that they +were non-communicative now was because no doubt they had said, before +entering the room, all that was necessary concerning the plans for the +night. Nora remained in silence, ate her meal and cleared away the +dishes, still holding the silence. She gazed up at the twinkling stars +dancing in the heavens, at the great moon shining brightly, sending +darting rays through the foliage of the large trees overhanging the +cabin. A silvery mist hung over the mountain and flitted through the +valley, the while the stars smiled down on the troubled earth. Troubled? +Yes, all mankind is troubled down the valley. Over all the deep blue of +the heavens dropped a shining sheen to cover the already beautiful +landscape. From afar over the mountain the voice of the night-bird came +gliding through the mist, the "hoot" of the night owl sounded a note of +warning, the sleepless animals of darkness pealed forth their notes of +joy as they gamboled over the green mountainside, and down, far down in +the depths of the rich valley, the cow-bell tinkled as the cow nibbled +the sweet green grass. None of these had thoughts of fear, none of +these discerned the great danger to humanity, none of these felt the +deep heart throbs that beat in the breast of humanity.</p> + +<p>It is growing late, but Nora Judson did not retire at her usual hour. +She dared not, lest she should lose the sight that had greeted her on +many similar occasions. However, she should not fail in one duty, her +evening prayer. This had been a lifelong duty, taught her early. Even in +the roughest and most rugged parts of this great universe the children +are taught that God liveth and reigneth. Somehow God gets into the most +seemingly forsaken communities in the remotest corners of the earth, and +lets it be known that He is the Almighty. He assumes power everywhere. +The child of the wildest region learns some form of prayer. Mrs. Judson +had taught Nora in her earliest days to say "Now I lay me down to +sleep," but knowing that she was not going to sleep this night Nora said +to herself, "What shall I do? what shall I do? fer I hain't a-goin' to +lay me down ter sleep this night. I hain't. O Lord, what shall I say?"</p> + +<p>Strange as it may seem, it had never occurred to her that any form of +speech other than she had been taught would be a prayer, therefore she +was utterly lost to know how to proceed. She looked wonderingly +heavenward as if to catch inspiration. Then it was that the thought was +aroused within her, the thought that she should pray for others. Her +pure young heart had found a way to speak to God, so she bowed her head +and clasped her hands and said tenderly, "O God,"—she hesitated as if +gathering thought for expression,—"kin Ye keep a secret? Ef Ye kin, +don't tell anybody how the old brindle cow got under the wire. Don't, +fer goodness' sake, 'cause ef ye do, hit mout git <i>him</i> into trouble. O +God, he is so nice. Them han'some eyes of his'n is a-hauntin' of me yet, +an' he was so good ter help me find old brindle an' drive her home. I +<i>was</i> askeered to come up ther road by myself, but I didn't want to let +on to him like as ef I was, 'cause he mout a-thought I was weak, an' he +was so good an' spoke so tenderly an' kind-like.</p> + +<p>"No man hain't never spoke to me that away afore, not even Al Thompson; +but I 'spect I don't keer nuthin' 'bout Al, an' maybe I never did; an' +<i>he</i> said he was here for his health an' would raise ter—he said +to-bac-co. He knows, an' that must be right. O God, I hope Ye didn't let +Tom see him as he was a-goin' back ter his shanty, 'cause ef ye did, hit +mout bring on more trouble fer him, an' I know Ye don't want him to get +into trouble. Tom's a good boy an' don't mean anybody harm, but——"</p> + +<p>Nora stopped and leaned forward, straining her ears to catch the weird +sound. From toward the mountain there came the clattering of many +horses' feet as they fell heavily upon the rocky hillside. On they came. +Nearer and nearer, louder and louder, the clattering sound grew.</p> + +<p>Every strike of a hoof upon the rocky way was like a needle driven into +her breast over her heart. With few words she cut her prayer short. +Looking heavenward she muttered imploringly, "Save him, an' let old +brindle git out again sometime."</p> + +<p>She stepped over to her one lonely, paneless window, pulled the latch +string, shoved the wooden panel aside and, peering out into the gloom, +listened with heavy beating heart to the clatter of the horses' feet as +they drew nearer. Heretofore this same sound had been as sweet music in +her ears. She had grown up in the midst of it, and her heart bounded +with great pleasure whenever she heard such a sound; but now it was +different, somehow she did not enjoy it. The many horsemen drew nearer, +until she could see them bounding rapidly down the mountain road.</p> + +<p>Outside she saw two lone horsemen in saddles, standing by the gate, as +immovable as statues. Silently they sat, neither horse nor rider moving, +not a sound escaping their lips. The mighty throng of horsemen were now +passing directly in front, and the two silent watchers of the night +quickly joined the mad race. Not a word escaped any of them until they +were nearing Jack Wade's cabin. Then one fellow leaned over and +whispered, through his heavy dark head-gear, to his companion nearest +him, "Wonder if he'll fall in, too?" There was no reply. Perhaps one was +not expected.</p> + +<p>On they flew, black demons of darkness, destructive vultures of freedom, +cutting the wind as if they had been a two-edged sword; slashing the +mist with their foaming steeds, dark steeds, as dark as the starless +night; enshrouded in caps as dark as the cloud-covered moon, speaking +never a word, but groaning destruction deep down in their revengeful +souls.</p> + +<p>Jack Wade was awakened from a peaceful slumber by the thundrous tramp of +the horses' heavy feet as they galloped swiftly by. He rose stupidly and +went out, but as he looked, saw nothing, yet it seemed to him that the +very atmosphere of the valley was alive with fantastic dancers. The +weird spectacle grew before his sleep-ladened eyes, until the devils of +hell seemed encrouched about him. Evidently they were bent on tearing +his heart asunder, for there they were preparing to spring upon him.</p> + +<p>"Begone, ye devils!"</p> + +<p>The beat of the horses' feet falling upon the softer ground grew fainter +and fainter, until the sound could be heard no more. Wade sat in his +doorway pondering and wondering over the strangeness of the people among +whom he had taken up his abode. He knew that the noise which woke him +had been made by the tramping of many horses, but knew not whither they +were bound, nor what their errand. He sat for a long time looking down +through the lowlands, dreaming, pondering. Ever the great dark eyes of +the valley girl danced in the moonlight space before him. Her soft +stare, tender hands, and innocent expression haunted him. Out in the +deep distance a dog was baying. The horsemen had no doubt awakened him +as they had awakened Wade, and he was entering his protest in loud and +continuous bays. Behind him a rooster was crowing the midnight hour, his +own wall clock tolling the same hour. Overhead the moon was shining +brightly, sending her silvery rays to greet all the earth.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there arose over the valley the shout of many voices, mingled +with the baying of as many dogs, then the midnight air was rent in twain +by the vibrations caused from the firing of pistols and rifles.</p> + +<p>"What now?" thought the ponderer. "Ye gods! this is a fearful +condition."</p> + +<p>Some two miles away a faint red light grew up out of the mist. Wade +strained his eyes in an effort to discern more clearly the cause. The +light grew until the watcher could clearly discern the flickering blaze +as it leaped high into the heavens, apparently bent on devouring the +very stars that gave light to the darkened earth. Still the blaze grew, +sending forth sparks like great balloons of fire. Over a little way +beyond another light sprang up to greet the straining eyes of the +watcher, and also grew in brightness, until the whole landscape for +miles over the valley was one bright sea of flame. The sight was too +much for Wade; he could not sit longer and watch it from such a great +distance. Hastily saddling his horse he rode toward the conflagration, +having two specific objects in view. One, and the lesser, to witness the +great conflagration; the other, to learn something of interest to +himself.</p> + +<p>The road over which he was traveling was so entirely new to him that he +found it quite difficult to make any speed, therefore he resigned +himself to a jog-trot, picking his way over ravines and around low +growing shrubs, sometimes emerging out into the open and traveling +beneath the large forest trees. He often wondered how it was possible +for the horsemen who had gone on ahead of him to have kept up such a +terrible speed on such a road. They knew the earth beneath their horses' +feet, every inch of it, and feared not, he concluded. Their horses were +fully acquainted with the rough way, and hesitated not. How friendly the +light of the waning moon appeared to that lonely traveler in that silent +dark region! How beautifully shone the little friendly stars, those +small heavenly bodies, from their homes in the clear blue sky! One does +not realize the full value of the moonlight until one has real necessity +for it, then its great value is known—indeed no value can be placed +upon it then.</p> + +<p>No light now came from the conflagration he was desiring to witness, but +there would be, as soon as he emerged once more into the open. He went +on cautiously, until he came out into the moonlight again. Yonder to the +right of him was the fire, still burning brightly, sending up a +flickering blaze. He hurried his pace as much as possible over the road, +and now saw a lone horseman speeding like the wind toward him. In +another moment he passed. His head was uncovered, but that was not +unnatural. It was all right; he knew him not. This lone horseman turned +in his saddle and glanced at Wade when he had got past him, never a +moment allowing his steed to slacken his pace. That was also all right. +They did not know each other. Wade hurried on, finally reaching the +burning building, where he found not a living thing, human nor beast, +nothing saving the dying embers of a burning home. The light from the +burning barn was brighter, and as he glanced that way he discovered a +poor horse lying by the gate in the agonies of death.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow," he thought, as he watched him breathe his last, "your +useful days are over; nothing can save you now."</p> + +<p>Wade looked farther. On all sides he saw nothing but charred ruins, dark +devastation, no sign of human nor animal life—not even a sign of +vegetable life. No noise, not even the deep bay or the low whine of the +farmhouse dog greeted his ears. Again he turned back into the darkness +of the night and made his way to his cabin, none the wiser for having +taken the trip.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + + +<p>Jack Wade was neither physically nor mentally afflicted. His great body +was physically strong, his mind was symmetrically powerful. His college +training prepared him to face the many difficult problems of life, his +elect wisdom led him carefully at all times, and his athletic ability +stood him well in hand on many occasions. As he sat pondering, he +wondered over the peculiar fact that not a soul in the entire valley +with whom he had talked had been willing to breathe one word concerning +the great conflagration of a few nights previous. No one ever spoke of +it, as though nothing so important had ever happened. Yet one man had +lost, in little more time than an hour, what it had taken a lifetime to +accumulate.</p> + +<p>Things down in the valley were mysteriously strange. Wade had been in +the community for some time, with an avowed purpose, but had not learned +a single thing that would lead him to any knowledge of what he most +desired to know. He was not yet even fully acquainted with his nearest +neighbors, and, feeling this to be necessary, he placed a book under his +arm and strode up the hot dusty road toward the cabin nearest the +mountain, knowing but little what kind of reception would be accorded +him. However, the reception was a secondary matter,—the sort did not +bother him in the least,—as his thoughts were not on kindly receptions +in this God-forsaken community. Apparently there was no friendly feeling +between any two persons in the valley, therefore he did not look for a +kindly reception, nor did he desire one. He wanted to know the people, +that was all.</p> + +<p>He passed the little bush which had so kindly sheltered him when Tom +Judson came rushing by, and reached the spot where he had bid the little +wild flower, the valley girl, good-by. It all looked the same yet. There +was the planter's cabin, just as he had seen it on the other occasion; +there was the old rickety wire gate through which the girl drove the cow +and through which her brother had led his horse soon afterward, and +through which he himself now strolled. He felt a peculiar shyness, this +man of the world, when he went into the little farmyard. The dog bayed, +the chickens cackled loudly, and the ducks quacked, raising their heads +loftily and scampering off toward the horse-lot. One old turkey gobbler +proudly strutted dangerously near him, signifying that he must be very +careful while treading on the soil of their domain. Through the window +the girl was watching him, her lustrous eyes all aglow at his approach, +her big heart beating a pit-a-pat against her shapely bosom, so fast +that she greatly feared lest he must hear it from his waiting place +outside.</p> + +<p>It was really the newcomer, the one person of all persons whom she most +desired to see. She remembered his last conversation, his kind words, +his attentive attitude. She had enjoyed him hugely, and wished for the +time when she should hear his sweet voice again. By the time he was +ready to knock she stood at the door, slightly blushing, not in the +least backward. Their eyes met, but that bespoke nothing. Her eyes had +met the gaze of others; so had his.</p> + +<p>"I've brought a book for you to read," he said, not knowing that she +could read at all.</p> + +<p>"You needn't," she replied, reddening. But she took the book, as he gave +it to her. Turning her face back toward the house she cried with a loud +voice, "Mam! here's John, ther newcomer."</p> + +<p>Jack looked up startled, greatly confused. She laughed at his confusion.</p> + +<p>"That's the name I give everybody who I don't know," she said, smiling.</p> + +<p>Wade felt quite relieved, his confusion at once disappearing. The +simplicity of this pure valley girl wrought within his soul a feeling +almost sympathetic. The simple means she had employed in asking him to +introduce himself caused a feeling akin to shame to cover his heart. +Recovering his composure, he said:</p> + +<p>"I am Jack Wade. I beg your pardon for not having told you before."</p> + +<p>"Ye needn't," she replied, extending her hand. A continuous smile played +about her face.</p> + +<p>"And your name?" he asked hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"Huh!" she grunted. "Thought everybody knowed me. I'm Nory Judson, only +gal of Peter Judson, owner of this large terbac—to-bac-ker farm. I'm +pleased ter know ye, Jack."</p> + +<p>Wade smiled as she requested him to take a seat upon the rickety little +porch and make himself at home. She sat beside him and dangled her feet +in and out under the porch.</p> + +<p>"You haven't got it quite right yet," he said, looking into her face.</p> + +<p>"Got whut right?" she asked, a far-away expression covering her +countenance.</p> + +<p>"Tobacco. T-o-b-a-c-c-o."</p> + +<p>"To-bac-co, tobacco," she slowly spelled after him studiously. "I +thought hit was terbacker," she continued in apparent animation, "an' +nobody hain't never said hit ain't 'round here." She did not mean to +rebuke him for the correction. He thought so only because he understood +her so very little. However, the subject was most too grave for him just +at this juncture in their lives, therefore he quietly evaded further +comment, feeling assured that it was not his duty to show this simple, +sweet child of the mountainside how incorrectly she spoke, although he +would gladly have done so could it have been done without in the least +affecting her feelings. The time was not opportune. She was sensitive, +perhaps, in a large degree, and he cared not to trample upon her +sensibility. Far better that he place himself on a plane equal to her +own as regards the use of the English language; otherwise she was more +than his equal. Besides, he was in sore need of friends to assist him in +fulfilling his purpose.</p> + +<p>"No one may ever say that you are not quite right," he said jovially. +"If they do, you may call on me and I'll see to it that justice is +done."</p> + +<p>He smiled and she could not refrain from smiling.</p> + +<p>"I forgive ye," she said, "because ye are a lonely bachelor, an' I don't +want ye ter feel bad. Ye look so lonesome."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. It is very lonely down at my cabin just now, though I surely +will become accustomed to this quiet life soon. Then all loneliness will +disappear, I presume. Just think of a fellow being away out here by his +lonesome self all day and all night, without a human soul to vent his +wrath upon or to have a quiet conversation with, and your old brindle +cow won't come down that way any more."</p> + +<p>She blushed, the crimson covering her face making her appear the more +beautiful, if such was possible. The flickering sunlight played on her +face as she replied, "She mout a-come agin fer all ye know sometime."</p> + +<p>"If she does, I hope she'll get entirely lost deep down in the +woodland."</p> + +<p>She turned sharply toward him.</p> + +<p>"What fer?"</p> + +<p>"So you may take longer to look for her, and upon discovering your +inability to locate her, may request the newcomer to aid you in the +search."</p> + +<p>She was studiously silent for a moment, her feet still swinging to and +fro underneath the porch. "I know these woods better'n you."</p> + +<p>"But we are to suppose that the hour is very late and you are quite +afraid to go into the woodland for fear some wild beast will catch you."</p> + +<p>Her merry laughter rang over the mountain.</p> + +<p>"Would ye help me agin?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Every time."</p> + +<p>Again she sat silent.</p> + +<p>"Old brindle mout git out agin and she mout git lost. Whut's ther book +ye brought me?"</p> + +<p>"A story of the Dark Ages."</p> + +<p>"Whut's that?"</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Ther Dark Ages."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's a time away back yonder before you were born."</p> + +<p>"Hit was putty dark in them days, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>Wade's face flushed perceptibly, but he smiled.</p> + +<p>"You cannot be so very much younger than myself," he said.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how old ye are, but I know I'm old 'nough ter go ter town +alone, an' can bring the cows home when Tom's not here."</p> + +<p>"Who is Tom?"</p> + +<p>"My only brother. Ye seed him t'other night when ye come with me ter +fetch the old brindle cow home, didn't ye?"</p> + +<p>"I saw someone on horse back coming up the road."</p> + +<p>"Did <i>he</i> see ye?" She bent over and looked straight into Wade's eyes.</p> + +<p>"I tried to keep him from doing so. I stepped behind a sheltering bush +while he passed, not that I particularly cared for his seeing <i>me</i>, but +I felt for your safety. You had told me that your father must not see +you with me, therefore I was in hiding for you, not for myself at all."</p> + +<p>"Ye needn't," she replied warmly. "It's fer yourself I'm lookin' out. I +can take care of me. The next time ye can, jest keep on in ther middle +of ther road ef ye think yer hidin' fer me. Ye hain't, no, ye hain't."</p> + +<p>Again Wade thoroughly misunderstood. "Let us keep peace," he said +tenderly, "because you are my nearest neighbor now, and I'm a most +neighborly fellow. I came over to-day because I believe neighbors ought +to be friendly."</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" she asked, a wild and troubled expression in her dark +eyes. "No, not all, not quite all," he answered thoughtfully. "Had there +not been an attraction here——"</p> + +<p>"Whut's 'attraction'?" she interrupted shyly.</p> + +<p>"Something to bring a fellow." She could not seem to understand.</p> + +<p>"Your hoss could a-done that."</p> + +<p>Wade laughed outright. The silvery notes touched deep down into the +girl's very heart and soul, and she laughed a joyous laugh.</p> + +<p>"I mean there is something on the other end to attract, to cause a +fellow to have a desire to go. For instance, a magnetic power attracts +other things, other bits of steel directly to it——"</p> + +<p>"Whut's magnetic power?" she asked, interrupting.</p> + +<p>"Haven't you seen a lodestone or a bit of steel in the shape of a +horseshoe that will pick up a needle of its own power?"</p> + +<p>"I can do that. Is it a sign that I'm magnetic?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. You are the power of attraction just now."</p> + +<p>"Aw," she ejaculated, looking shyly at him, "I don't know whut you mean +yet."</p> + +<p>"I'll bring a stone when I go to the village again and teach you +something of the power of magnetism."</p> + +<p>"Ye needn't. I know all about that. Al Thompson said onct that I was so +powerful a magnetic that he jest couldn't keep away from me. Now I know +whut he meant."</p> + +<p>"Who is Al Thompson?" asked Wade.</p> + +<p>"Why, don't ye know? He's ther wolf—night-watch jest now."</p> + +<p>"You are talking strange things to me, Nora. I don't know the +wolf—night-watch—at all." The girl placed her finger over her lips. +"Here comes Mam," she said.</p> + +<p>The scrawny figure of Mrs. Judson appeared in the doorway. "Nora," she +said, drawling, "who'd ye say this man was?"</p> + +<p>"His name is Jack. That's all I remember."</p> + +<p>"Wade," said Jack, smiling.</p> + +<p>"That's hit, Mam, Jack Wade. Well, he's ther newcomer, an' our +neighbor, an' he's come over ter make hisself 'quainted with us."</p> + +<p>"Yer welcome, neighbor Wade," said Mrs. Judson. "Whar be ye from?"</p> + +<p>"All the way from New York City."</p> + +<p>"Phew!" whistled Nora, dangling her feet a little more furiously. +"That's ther biggest city whut hit is, haint it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, the largest in the United States, at any rate."</p> + +<p>"Be ye a-goin' ter raise terbacker——"</p> + +<p>"Tobacco, Mam," corrected Nora, with a knowing wink.</p> + +<p>"Whar'd yer l'arn ter be so smart?" asked Mrs. Judson angrily.</p> + +<p>"From Jack here. He's been teachin' me ther smart ways of ther town +folks."</p> + +<p>Jack smiled good-naturedly. He did not intend raising tobacco in great +quantities, he said, as he was here on account of his health, but would +raise some tobacco, just enough to keep him engaged, to keep him out of +deeper mischief.</p> + +<p>"I might have the same fate served out to me as did one over yonder a +few nights back, if I should raise much tobacco."</p> + +<p>For a moment there was a deep silence over the trio. Nora looked quickly +up toward the mountain, while her mother cast her eyes downward and +counted the cracks in the porch floor.</p> + +<p>"Ye mout come through all right," she said finally.</p> + +<p>"I might, and I may conclude to raise a large crop some time. I have +lately purchased the old Redmond farm, but don't intend using it for the +time being. A fellow living a lonely life does not feel greatly like +working much."</p> + +<p>"Ye've got the richest land in ther whole valley," said Mrs. Judson, +"that's sure."</p> + +<p>"I have heard so. I look for great crops off it in the future. Do not +hope to meet the same fate the former owner met with."</p> + +<p>"Not very likely that ye will. I hope not."</p> + +<p>"Thank you."</p> + +<p>Wade, feeling that to prolong his call at this time would be encroaching +on mountain hospitality, excused himself, promising to come again.</p> + +<p>"I'm very sorry," he said, "not to have met your men folks."</p> + +<p>"They mout be here next time you call," said Nora, following him out to +the gate, loath to see him going. "I'll read ther book clean through. +Good-by, Jack."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, Nora."</p> + +<p>There was something attractive in young Jack Wade's bearing that caused +Nora Judson to look long after him as he wended down the road toward his +own cabin. Once he looked back and saw her still standing at the gate, +where he left her. Her hands were clasped before her, she stood erect, +looking neither to the right nor to the left, but straight in front of +her. Jack waved his hand, but she did not return the wave. When he was a +long way off he turned and looked again. She still stood motionless, +gazing out into the far beyond, her dress waving in the gentle wind, her +tresses, wafted by the gentle breezes, falling about her crimson cheeks.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + + +<p>The cool air of the early morning, blowing down from the mountain, is +refreshing and invigorating to Jack Wade, who is standing in the door of +his cabin leaning against the facing leisurely, taking in with his eye +the broad expanse of the valley before him.</p> + +<p>He inhales deeply of the pure fresh Kentucky morning air, while his +athletic frame quivers in the light of the rising sun. The eastern +horizon was all aglow with the brightness shining through the flitting +snow-white clouds. It was a beautiful picture, so he stood silent, +drinking in the scenery of the surrounding country with great pleasure. +Behind him, unknown to his waiting heart, stood a pure, sweet girl, +gazing out through the deep mist of the morning, as if to penetrate the +very depths to a distance where she might get one glimpse of the single +man who had unconsciously awakened within her soul a new life, a new +hope. A new being sprang up within her, her soul longed for the time +when she could see him and hear his musical voice speaking to her inner +life and vibrating to the deepest depths of her quivering young heart.</p> + +<p>Wade thought of her often, but only as a newborn, unopened bud. He +thought of her oftener than he felt he should, but he couldn't help +that. Still, a flush of feeling came into his heart when he did think of +her. What was it? What was this dark-eyed daughter of a tobacco planter +to him that he should quit his pondering when the memory of her crossed +his mind or when her crimson face rose like a vision before his eyes? +She must be regarded as secondary. Other matters claimed his attention +first, and should receive strict and careful consideration. But he could +not resist. Temptation, ah, temptation! thou art the power which +overcomes strong man. Wade threw the saddle on his horse, strapped his +rifle on the saddle, and rode up the road toward the climbing sun, +toward the towering mountain, intending to take a few hours in hunting, +and casting over the views on the other side. When he reached Peter +Judson's cabin he hesitated. "The attraction, the hoss, hit brung him."</p> + +<p>Old Peter was stringing some new wire along the outer fence and did not +notice Wade's approach; if he had noticed him he did not let on.</p> + +<p>"Busy this morning, neighbor," said Wade, pulling up. Old Peter turned +abruptly, spat out a great stream of "terbacker" juice and replied: +"Ther durned old cow gits out too often. Gotter double ther wires. +'Light an' hitch, won't ye?"</p> + +<p>Wade would, as he wished to become better acquainted with his nearest +neighbor. He had called before, he said, but had found Mr. Judson gone +out on business, and he was glad to find him at home on this beautiful +morning. While Wade talked with Old Peter Judson, he could feel the +power of those piercing dark eyes as they penetrated the window pane +behind him. The vision was again before him. The bewitching smile, the +great rows of pearly white teeth, the dimples in either cheek, he saw, +though she sat somewhere in the dark recesses of that little old cabin. +But this did not deter him. He spoke of the great prospect for another +crop, while the old man leaned against a fence post and occasionally +spit a stream of dark red tobacco juice.</p> + +<p>Once he took deliberate aim at a young chick and missed him about a half +inch. He would have drowned him had he hit the mark.</p> + +<p>"Ye haint got chickens down ter yer shanty?" said the old man +questioningly.</p> + +<p>Wade had a few old hens and a rooster, he said. The hens were not +laying,—they were not the laying sort,—but he hoped to raise a few +chickens along just for his own pleasure, to get diversion from other +duties. He spoke so kindly and firmly that Peter Judson thought he was +going to like him, unless he took to different ways, unless he was +"agin" the poor man, unless he "mout do something terrible." There was a +chance that he was all right and there was a chance that he was all +wrong. The "Wolf, Night-Watch," had discovered things that did not at +all seem right, and until they were proved false or true an opinion +would not be entertained. While one talked with him, there arose a doubt +as to whether the Wolf, Night-Watch, might not be utterly mistaken. That +would be determined later. For the present he was perfectly all right.</p> + +<p>Wade was also making discoveries of which he thought his neighbors knew +nothing. He was in the community, he told Judson, to aid and assist his +neighbors, especially those who showed an inclination to assist him and +a friendliness toward him. He had sufficient funds, he said, to enable +him to go through life easily, and therefore his sole aim was <i>not</i> to +make money, but to regain lost health. Old Peter opened wide his eyes, +making occasional replies.</p> + +<p>Though thoroughly uneducated, Peter Judson was no fool by any means, and +he had a mathematical way of his own to figure out problems which +confronted him in every-day life. He was plain, but staunch, was glad to +know his neighbor, and hoped he would call often. They were immediate +neighbors, he said, and should be friends: Peter even invited Wade to +come back and take dinner, and Wade accepted, pleased with the +opportunity that should lead him into the family of which he desired to +learn more. He wanted to know their home life, their inmost thoughts, +and he therefore gladly accepted the kind invitation to lunch. Wade +turned to go, but some supernatural power impelled him to hesitate, and +that hesitation brought forth her whom he of all people most desired to +see. Nora, seeing that the conversation between her father and the +newcomer was about completed, stepped out, with flushed face and +throbbing heart, to thank him for the book which she said she had read +and enjoyed.</p> + +<p>"I have others," he said. "I shall bring another to you soon."</p> + +<p>"Thank ye. Are ye goin' a-huntin' fer game, er what?"</p> + +<p>"For game."</p> + +<p>"I can show you where ye can git lots of birds."</p> + +<p>"That she kin," said Peter. "I most forgot. Jest take mine an' Tom's +guns an' leave yer rifle here, an' that gal'll show ye how ter hunt in +this kintry. She knows ther haunts o' every bird an' every squirrel in +the mountain."</p> + +<p>This arrangement was very agreeable to Wade, who accepted with beaming +pleasure, leaving his rifle while he took a shotgun, as suggested by +Nora Judson's father. Wade desired to saddle a horse for Nora, but she +protested stoutly, saying that she could throw a saddle on a horse +quicker than he could, which he readily agreed was true. Together and +happily they rode toward the mountain, with light hearts—they were both +young—conversing as freely as if they had been lifelong acquaintances. +Over the rugged mountain side they rode, sometimes down the little +ravines or nitches, sometimes beside the rough boulders, always side by +side, talking, laughing, joking, until they reached a spot where they +were to hitch the horses and traverse farther in on foot. The sweet wild +mountain flowers waving in the breeze nodded their little dew-dipped +golden heads in the light of the summer sun as they passed them by.</p> + +<p>Wade dreamed of their beauty and fragrance as they peeped up from their +rocky beds with a look of entire approval and recognition. He stopped +once to pluck a flower, which he gave to Nora, and which she accepted +blushing. This one simple act carried to her heart, inexperienced as it +was in the ways of the world, greater significance than Wade had meant. +He was so thoroughly unacquainted with the customs of these mountain +people, and didn't know. She was silent for a brief spell,—she was +always very silent when thinking,—then as if impelled by the spirits of +the air she thanked him in her simple, innocent way, while her head +dropped until her chin rested on her bosom.</p> + +<p>"I read your book through," she said, breaking the silence, "and hit—it +has done me so much good."</p> + +<p>"Tell me about it." They had reached an open grassy spot bordered by +thick brush and tall trees. "Sit here while you tell me something from +your heart."</p> + +<p>Wade had not failed to notice that she often corrected herself in speech +at times when she deliberated.</p> + +<p>"And the birds?" she asked, looking toward the blue sky with a far-off +expression.</p> + +<p>"Never mind them,"—hastily. "We shall get all the birds we shall want +to take home later. Now, let us have one good talk together out here in +the open, on the side of this lovely mountain, where none save God shall +see us or hear us, where we can open our hearts to each other."</p> + +<p>She sat down in a manner not unbecoming anywhere, and he sat opposite +her.</p> + +<p>"It must be mighty lonely fer ye all by yerself—yourself," she said.</p> + +<p>"It is, quite, just now; but I shall have company soon."</p> + +<p>She looked up sharply, inquiringly. "When and who?" painfully.</p> + +<p>"Can't just tell when, but sometime in the near future."</p> + +<p>She was still looking at him questioningly.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to have a family on the Redmond farm," he continued; "am +building there now."</p> + +<p>She felt relieved.</p> + +<p>"Haint ye got a sweetheart back yonder in the big city?" she asked.</p> + +<p>He looked into her eyes, but she cunningly evaded the stare.</p> + +<p>"Won't you be my sweetheart?" he asked, smiling. He saw the crimson +creep to her face and she lowered her head.</p> + +<p>"Ye didn't answer my question," she said softly, head still drooping.</p> + +<p>"I have not. I have no sweetheart anywhere. Women never cared for +me"—sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>The little brown poppies waved their heads in wild delight, while the +chirping birds sang songs of rejoicing from the treetops, as they looked +upon this peculiar mountain scene.</p> + +<p>"What did ye come into this country for?" she asked abruptly.</p> + +<p>He smiled.</p> + +<p>"You don't believe me. If I should say I came here to rid the country of +the terrible band of destructive Nightriders, would you believe it?"</p> + +<p>She started violently.</p> + +<p>"Don't say that," she said; "don't ye do it."</p> + +<p>"Why not? If I tell you I am here for my health, you don't believe that. +Why not say something equally as ridiculous?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody believes ye come here for your health, an' everybody might +believe ye had an idea ye could rid the country of Nightriders. They're +ready to believe anything of a newcomer. They think he's a spy, an' they +mout think anything that they take a notion to think. My warnin' to ye +is that ye better not say that, ye better take it back as a joke right +now."</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't tell on me, would you?"</p> + +<p>"Ye better take it back."</p> + +<p>"I won't take anything back," he said firmly, but smiling.</p> + +<p>"Ye frighten me, Jack."</p> + +<p>She spoke with all the tenderness of her heart.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean to do that. I'm very docile, I'm just opening my life to +you because I—I think I like you and——"</p> + +<p>"Ye needn't," she said, blushing. "I know what ye would say. Dad don't +like for the gentlemen to talk to me that away."</p> + +<p>"Dad is far away just now, and if I say I like you, Nora, it is because +I do, and your Dad can know that much if he so desires. I do not mean to +deceive him, nor would I deceive you for all the world and this big +mountain thrown in." He peered down into those great dark eyes, which +met his gaze with unflinching, gleaming admiration. "It's so pleasant +here," he added.</p> + +<p>"Ain't it pleasant in the big city?" she asked doubtfully.</p> + +<p>The outer world now held a certain charm which to her had not been known +before.</p> + +<p>"Not so pleasant as it is here on the mountain side," he replied. +"Listen, Nora. In the city you cannot hear the rippling waters as they +dance down the rocky pathway over the hill to the stream beyond. You +cannot listen to the song of the wild morning bird as he cries out in +his great freedom from his lofty perch in yonder tree top; you cannot +inhale the pure fresh air as it glides gently over the brushy way; you +cannot hear the rustling of the dry leaves as you do here, therefore, it +is not so pleasant in the big city."</p> + +<p>"Ye gets used to that here," she said.</p> + +<p>"You get used to the clanging bells, to the snorting whistles, and to +the dusty, smoky atmosphere in the city, too, but there is still a +difference. There you see people at all hours of the day and night +busily rushing to and fro, this way and that, rushing, pushing, jamming, +nothing more."</p> + +<p>"I think I would like that for a while," she said.</p> + +<p>"No, you wouldn't. Not long. It is not near so pleasant there as it is +here, and by your side." He slipped his arm around her waist. She made +no effort to disengage it. "It's so ple——"</p> + +<p>"What's that?" she said, startled. A rifle shot, followed by a wild +yell, broke the peaceful stillness of the mountain air. She leaned her +head far over and listened. "That's Al Thompson," she cried. "Let's be +a-goin'. When he's that away I don't want to meet him. He's dangerous." +She broke from his grasp and stood erect, listening.</p> + +<p>"I have no fear of Al Thompson, nor any other man," he said, rising. +"Where this arm falls power falls with it. I am monarch of the hill just +now."</p> + +<p>He was dramatic, and she admired his great physique and brave words.</p> + +<p>"Ye don't know Al," she said. "He's been drinkin', an' is not +accountable for his actions, so we'd better be a-gittin'."</p> + +<p>"If you have no confidence in my strength," he said angrily, "we shall +go."</p> + +<p>She felt a little hurt.</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to," she said slowly, "but I want you to go so's you'll +be safe."</p> + +<p>They started off, but before they cleared the opening that hideous yell +broke the otherwise dead silence, and Al Thompson darted through the +thicket like a madman, brandishing his pistol over his head, and with a +roar of anger, cried out:</p> + +<p>"I've got ye now, durn ye', an' ye'll never see daylight agin. Hit ther +road, gal, while I lay him out like a dog."</p> + +<p>Al was coming nearer and nearer as he spoke. Wade did not flinch, but +stood like a man. Nora stepped in front of him to protect him from the +onslaught, but she was like a twig in the hands of that maddened giant. +He caught her by the shoulder and cast her aside as though she had been +chaff before a strong wind. However, he did not reckon on the powerful +agility of his athletic antagonist, who, before the wild man knew what +had happened, knocked the pistol from his maniacal grasp. One of Wade's +fists then shot out and struck Thompson squarely on the nose. He went +down, grunting under the smart of pain, while Wade stood over him like a +heroic victor, not deigning to strike his enemy while he was down. +Nora's admiration for Jack's daring and skill grew stronger as she saw +him standing there over the prostrate form of his victim, whom he could +have killed had he chosen to do so.</p> + +<p>"What ye goin' ter do with me since you got me down?" asked Al +doggedly, not in the least defiantly.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to let you get up so I can have the great pleasure of +knocking you down again," Wade replied, with flushed face and animated +voice.</p> + +<p>Thompson saw the very streaks of fire as they shot from Jack Wade's +eyes, and he made no effort to rise. He just looked sullenly, first at +Wade, then at the girl.</p> + +<p>"Get up, quick, you coward!" exclaimed Wade warmly.</p> + +<p>"I'm comfortable 'nough here," replied Thompson. "If I get up ye might +keep your word an' lay me out again."</p> + +<p>Jack Wade was not fully acquainted with the mountain laws, the laws as +regarded between man and man, or man and his sworn enemy. No other law +counted for anything with the mountaineers. If any one of those fellows +had got him in the same position, under similar circumstances, they +would not have left enough of him to rise from the earth, in fact, there +would not have been enough of him for his friends to gather up with a +shovel, so utterly thorough would have been the destruction of his +tenement of clay.</p> + +<p>Thompson, seeing that he was safe from further attack, contented +himself by saying, "I'll git ye yet."</p> + +<p>"Come," said Wade, taking Nora by the arm, "let us now be going. Forgive +me for such unseemly conduct in your presence."</p> + +<p>The girl did not seem to understand. Such as she had just seen she had +been accustomed to always, ever since she first remembered anything that +was going on about her. Never before had she heard an apology when one +man knocked another down.</p> + +<p>"Ye couldn't help it," she said. After a few moments silence she +continued, "He'll kill ye shore, ef ye don't keep away from him."</p> + +<p>"No, he won't, Nora. He won't attempt it again. If he does, well—that's +something else. I presume he is a Rider, is he not?" She did not reply. +"Come, Nora," said Wade pleadingly; "don't be reticent. Tell me all you +can, being consistent, just as I have told you everything—all the +contents of my heart to-day."</p> + +<p>She could not resist the appeal. Tears were gathering in her eyes; they +were the first Wade had seen in any eyes for a long time, and his own +heart was touched. She opened her innocent life before him and told him +all she knew. The women folks, however, did not know nearly so much as +they often prided themselves as knowing. She believed he ought to know, +more especially since the incident with Al Thompson, because it would be +a sort of protection to him. He would know what to look for and how to +bear himself.</p> + +<p>"They aint a-goin' ter hurt ye, ef I can help ye," she said, sobbingly.</p> + +<p>He understood her feelings perfectly well, and determined there on the +wild mountainside, in the presence of the rugged hills and within sound +of the running waters, to protect and aid this unopened wild flower of +the mountain so long as he had power to do so, so long as this power +lasted—so long as he had breath in his lungs.</p> + +<p>This vow he faithfully kept. Men do things very often during life for +which they are very sorry, do things which, in more conservative +moments, bring on pangs of regret; but Jack Wade felt not the least +regret because he had knocked down Al Thompson. He did not regret that +act, but a tinge of sorrow and shame ran through his soul as he looked +upon the crimson face of his gentle companion. The advantage he had +taken in her moment of weakness would, no doubt, stand him well in +fulfilling the purpose for which he had quit a life of plenty,—a life +of sociality, and had come to the lonesome hills to live in a cabin all +alone to carry out. The burden of it all was burning his own soul and +gnawing at the very vitals of the life within him. He was a man through +and through, a man who could have gained the topmost heights of the +most elevated, elaborate society, but he had sought instead the quiet +life of the farmer, a life alone in a cabin away toward the hills of +Kentucky, far from civilization. Beside him rode in perfect silence, +broken only by the sound of the horses' feet falling upon the dirt, a +child of the wilds, whose own heart burned her bosom, that heart which +had in an unguarded moment unloaded all that was most sacred to her and +to her own people, all that had been held dear to one who had been +taught in only one way. She felt sorrowful, but that same power which +bound her when Jack Wade was away kept her silent when he was near. The +rocks of the rugged mountain ridge pointed to her as she passed, the +little yellow wild flowers bowed their sweet heads in shame when her +skirts touched them. She would not look at them, their beauty had in a +moment flown. She would not look over the wild mountain scenery; its +picturesqueness had departed. A dead shade rested over everything. She +would not even glance up at the strong man at her side for fear his +powerful gaze might pierce her heart as an arrow shot out from a strong +arm. But why all this sorrow? He knew, he understood, and was silent. He +looked toward her in silent admiration, and his heart smiled, but his +lips moved not. To assure her was his thought, was the only motive of +his heart, but he could wait until a calmer moment. The waters of life +were troubled now, there was a storm upon the quiet sea, whose ruffled, +wind-tossed waves were rolling high, and he must wait.</p> + +<p>Behind them was the very hound of the devil, cursing and swearing +uproariously. Every curse was an avowed vengeance, every breath foretold +the death of someone. The murderous black eyes of the mountain wolf +gazed on, the steel-like paws of the forest lion tore the earth where he +lay, the savage instinct of an untamed Indian of primeval days filled +his blood. The heart of the most ferocious beast was encased within his +bosom, and vengeance, sweet vengeance, was his insistent cry. He rose +from the earth where Jack Wade had laid him with that powerful blow of +his heavy fist, snorted like a hyena, shook his fist tragically after +Wade and Nora, then crouched as a panther when about to spring upon an +unsuspecting victim or an awaiting foe, leaped high into the air, and, +yelling like a Comanche on the war-path, darted like a frightened hare +down the mountain side in the direction whence he came, spitting out +fire and brimstone as he ran.</p> + +<p>"She's mine, mine!" he shouted, "an' ye needn't think she hain't."</p> + +<p>Down the other side of the mountain now rode two beings who seemed +farther apart than before they knew each other, yet whose hearts beat as +one, and who were in reality closer together than any other two human +beings on the great earth.</p> + +<p>When Al Thompson opened his lungs and sent forth that unearthly yell +which vibrated through the forest down in the valley, the girl caught +hold of Wade's arm. She quivered, he felt the emotion playing over her +being, and caught the soft hand in his own.</p> + +<p>"Have no fear whatever," he said reassuringly. "He is drunk. When he +comes out from under the spell once more, he will think nothing of this +affair."</p> + +<p>"Ye don't know him, Jack," she replied. "I warn ye agin', cause——" She +stopped.</p> + +<p>"Because what, child?" he questioned, noting her hesitation. "Speak what +is in your heart."</p> + +<p>"Because," she continued falteringly, "I don't want ye ter get hurt."</p> + +<p>He smiled encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"He won't hurt me, but I'll keep a close watch for your sake. If he +gives me further trouble I'll put him in jail down in the village."</p> + +<p>"Huh! that jail won't hold him; hit ain't never held a——one of these +mountain fellers yet. That won't do; ye must hold him some other way."</p> + +<p>"All right, I'll hold him some way, sure. I want you to feel satisfied +that I am able to do it."</p> + +<p>As they were nearing the house they saw old Peter Judson standing at the +gate awaiting their return.</p> + +<p>"I've enjoyed this trip with you, Jack," she whispered softly.</p> + +<p>"No more than I have enjoyed it with you," he replied feelingly.</p> + +<p>"And ther birds——"</p> + +<p>"Whar's yer game?" shouted Peter as they rode up, both flushing red. +"An' fer the land sake," continued Peter, "what makes ye look so durn +funny 'bout ther eyes an' face? What in ther world's got hold of ye; air +ye sick, gal?"</p> + +<p>She was not very ill, she said. Indeed, she had never felt better +physically, but——</p> + +<p>The old man was fumbling through the saddle-bags in search of birds or +other game. Wade could not suppress a smile because of the comical +expression upon the face of the disappointed old man.</p> + +<p>"This is ther durndest hunt I ever heerd 'bout in these hills," said +Peter. "A half-day out, an' no game."</p> + +<p>"We haven't fired a gun," replied Wade, "therefore have no game." The +old man looked at Wade, then at his daughter. His disappointed +expression was at once superseded by one of anxiety. Indeed, he looked +very sorrowful. "But ye fired one good shot," he said sternly. "An ef ye +intend ter be foolin', I want ter warn ye ter be a-lookin' out. Fun +shots don't go in this hyar kintry." He appeared to be greatly agitated +now, but when he learned the real circumstances he softened, and his +eyes gave forth a tender expression. "Git down," he said, "chuck is put +nigh ready. I'll put yer hoss up'n feed him, an' we'll have a old time +talk 'bout everything, from ther days o' Goliath till ther days o' +corn-huskin',—'bout which ye know mighty little, I reckon, ef I don't +miss my guess a long way, by lookin' at ye."</p> + +<p>Old Peter refrained from remarking just at this time anything touching +upon the actions of Al Thompson, but many strange and peculiar thoughts +were romping pell-mell through his heavy brain.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + + +<p>Dining at the home of a farmer was quite a new and novel experience to +Wade, as there was no similarity to dining in a fashionable restaurant +on a fashionable street in a large city. This was an experience in his +life that he often thought of afterward. At one end of the table sat +Peter Judson, to his right sat Mrs. Judson. In one corner of the stuffy +little cabin dining-room sat a gray old cat on its haunches, appearing +in every respect to be quite angry because it had been made to wait +until the second table when it had been accustomed to eating with the +family. Wade watched the cat, for it very often "licked its chops." +Beside him lay Rover, the furry-headed dog, Nora's pet.</p> + +<p>Jack was just as awkward at that table as the girl would have been had +she been sitting down at a table in the greatest hotel in New York City. +His manners and table etiquette were so entirely different that his +actions did not seem at all right or natural. He sat like a boy who has +been allowed to eat at the first table when his father had company. When +Nora asked if he wouldn't take a piece of the "sow's belly," and he +replied, "Thank you, I wouldn't choose any," she still held the dish +before him until he took a slice. He sipped his coffee daintily, as a +girl at an evening tea, holding the cup by the handle, while his little +finger was extended high, and the girl gave him a cup-towel—"so's ther +cup wouldn't burn his fingers" when he was drinking his coffee. He cut +the meat off his chicken bone with his knife and put it into his mouth +with his fork, causing the girl to blush because he was acting so +ridiculous before her Dad and Mam, when she had really expected so much +of him at this crucial time.</p> + +<p>Old Peter would take about half his coffee at one gulp—this was +more natural—making a noise like unto a sawmill when it is thoroughly +busy. Then he would wipe his mouth on his shirt sleeve and take the +coffee off his mustache with a sizzing noise. The climax to this +long-to-be-remembered meal came when Wade put his knife and fork in his +plate and picked up the scraps of bread and chicken bones and put them +carefully alongside the knife and fork. Being unable to understand such +strange conduct, Nora stepped behind Jack and hid her face in a dish +towel. We do not know just what she was doing behind the towel, but +presume she "stole a sweet smile," as her face was very red when she +finally came out of hiding.</p> + +<p>They got through the meal, however, after a great length of time had +elapsed, for they conversed about every thing, crops especially and +folks in the city in general. Tom was off toward the village purchasing +supplies and would not return, likely, until late in the afternoon, so +Wade must content himself with listening to Peter Judson for at least a +half-day. This he did, and he listened with growing interest. The old +man knew of things that had happened away back yonder 'afore the war, +and he knew about things that would happen at some future date. He had +lived through one generation of feuds and thought "thar mout be tough +times ahead fer some folks as he know'd of now, an' they hain't fer +away, nuther," he said meaningly. "Why, jest let me tell you somethin', +Wade," said old Peter, bending over and shaking his finger at the +latter. "Way back yonder somewhar in the eighteens we had some mouty lot +of trouble, that we did. Them was ther days when ther white caps or +somethin' done things, and I hain't fergot it nuther, an' what's more, I +hain't never a-goin ter fergit. I hain't that sort—ther fergit'n kind. +An' ye'll find that out 'afore ye air hyar in this kintry much longer. +Ef a man treats Peter Judson all right, he's a-goin' ter git treated all +right back again. Ef he treats me mean, why, he's gotter look out fer +his head, that's all. I kin remember onct away back yonder—I was on +t'other side then—an' was as peaceful a man as lived, when I was a +plowin' in my field an' up comes a feller as fast as he could ride a +hoss, an' says, sayse: 'Peter Judson, yer gotter git out o' this kintry, +an' that putty quick. Ef yer don't, yer neck'll be stretched.' 'Well, I +won't,' says I, 'not till I git good'n ready, an' ef you ner anybody +else thinks as how they kin make me git out afore I want to, let's see +ther color o' his hair. An' I takes ther lines from my shoulders an' +drops 'em down over ther plow handle an' squares myself, thinkin' maybe +he'd want some of it right then an' thar. But no, what'd he do? He up +an' put spurs to his hoss an' digs out down ther road lip-i-ty-clip, an' +I seed nuthin' o' him no more."</p> + +<p>The old man paused to let out a great stream of tobacco juice.</p> + +<p>Wade threw his left leg over his right knee by way of change, and asked, +"Was there any special reason, Mr. Judson, that this man should have +requested you to leave the country?"</p> + +<p>"None. None 'tall, but I left."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you did?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, siree. I left putty quick after a while. You see, I hain't told +you all of it yet. Them durn fellers come back one night, but I gits +wind of it somehow, an' sends ther family away an' takes everything out +an' puts ther stock in ther pasture,—nuthin's never hid from Peter +Judson,—an' I lays out in ther bushes in a dark spot an' waits +patiently. Long 'bout a little after midnight here they comes, 'bout a +half-dozen strong, an' shot fire into my house an' barns so fast that +afore I know'd what'd happened ther whole business was a flame o' fire. +Seein' as how I couldn't do nuthin' ter save ther things, I jest waited +till they gits through with their cussedness, an' then—what'd ye think? +Afore they know'd what'd struck 'em I sent ther bullets from my +Winchester a-flyin' after them like hot cakes, an' four o' them fell in +their tracks, while ther two got away, an' all their hosses lit out down +ther road, without riders, like lead shot out o' a cannon on ther field +o' war."</p> + +<p>The old man spat out another wad of tobacco and put a fresh plug in his +mouth. There was some hesitation before he spoke again.</p> + +<p>"You take it rather cool," said Wade, after a short silence.</p> + +<p>"Gotter, my boy. Them was terrible times 'round hyar, but ef I +calkerlate right, we air in ther midst o' jest sich another time, right +now."</p> + +<p>Old Peter Judson looked squarely into Wade's eyes, forcing the latter to +turn his gaze.</p> + +<p>"Ye air a young man, Wade," said Judson, "an' I want ter give ye some +advice, fust class advice, an' yer better take it, too. When ye dig a +hole fer some other feller, be shore ye dig it so deep he cain't get +out'n hit, an' then"—Peter was emphatic—"be shore ye don't git into +that hole yerself. Hit's a durn sight easier, Wade, ter start somethin' +than hit is ter stop it after ye onct git it started. D'ye mind that +now?"</p> + +<p>"I believe I understand," said Wade, with a far-away look on his +countenance.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell ye agin, young man, that yer Uncle Peter Judson's been +through ther fires o' hell 'round this hyar mountain, an' he knows what +he's talkin' 'bout. Afore mornin' ye'll see that cabin down yonder all +aflames, lickin' ther very sky in an effort ter eat up ther stars."</p> + +<p>"What, mine, do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Ther same, boy. Why, what makes yer look so durn funny? Hit's ther +solid truth, God knows, Jack Wade, yer own cabin'll be ashes afore +another sun rises over ther mountain. Ye have made a enemy out'n Al +Thompson, an' nuthin' this side o' hell could stop him from a-killin' +ye, ef ye don't git him fust. Ye needn't git upon yer high spirits an' +think yer kin stop it, fer ye cain't. A fawty-hoss power gatlin'-gun +woudn't stop them savages to-night, so jest be easy an' take it natural +like, an' ye won't feel so bad when hit's all over. Me an' Tom'll go +down with ye after awhile an' help ye put everything out in ther field, +an' move ther stock ter a place o' safety, so's ter fool them fiends +that much—"</p> + +<p>"I won't submit to it," interrupted Wade angrily. "I'll kill the man who +tries to burn my property."</p> + +<p>"That's what ye kin do, Wade, but ye must wait till some other time. I'd +ruther take that rifle thar an' blow yer brains out'n yer head whar ye +stand than ter let ye go down thar an' git killed without any show +'tall. Don't up an' git mad now. Ye'll see that old Peter Judson knows +what he's talkin' 'bout. I've been in this kintry too long fer to not +know. Ye've made a enemy out o' Al Thompson, an' he's a chip off'n ther +old block, only his Daddy is worse nur him. He's worse nur the old devil +hisself, an' they won't rest till they're torn the earth up around ther +mountain, an' dug a hole deep 'nough ter put a dozen good men in."</p> + +<p>Old Peter paused again, while Wade looked down toward the earth with a +troubled expression on his face.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with the law in this country?" asked Wade, although +he knew that law and order were unknown to these people.</p> + +<p>"Ther hain't any law," replied Peter. "Ther law tried ter git out here +onct, an' I seed old Jim Thompson kill two officers. I seed it with my +own eyes, an' Tom a-comin' yonder saw him shoot one down in his tracks. +They want no more in town what'd tackle comin' after him, an' he's +still hyar a-doin' business in ther same old way."</p> + +<p>Jack Wade was considerably puzzled. Here was an old farmer, who he had +calculated to shoot through the heart some day, now giving him advice +which he thought would save his life—at least would save him much +trouble. Here was a man who had just related to him that the Riders had +at one time swooped down on him and destroyed his home and all else he +had possessed save what he took out to the field; here was a man that +rumor said was one of the very leaders of a band of lawless desperadoes +who sought the lives of all good citizens of the community, now telling +him of a man whose deeds were enough to turn the heart of a less brave +man into a channel of terrible fear. This man was now trying to save his +life, would himself rather put a bullet into his brain than see others +do it or know that others had done so. That was friendship bordering on +love. What kind of a man is he?</p> + +<p>The mysteries of the hill deepen, the mysteries of the valley broaden. +The closer he seems to have got to his desired end the further is he +away from it. His plans seem crumbling to decay, his strong heart was +bound in utter weakness. One glance from the firm, dark eyes of Nora +Judson took all the manhood out of his soul. One touch of her finger +tips made weak his stalwart frame. Now he must stand idle, in meek +submission, while his sworn enemies burned his cabin and filled the air +with their curses because they could not find the object of their +vengeance and tear him to pieces bit by bit.</p> + +<p>Jack Wade cursed under his breath and bit his lips till the blood +flowed, as he looked down toward his lonesome little cabin home, which +he had come to look upon as a true friend. His heart bounded in his +bosom, his brow corrugated, his eyes danced and gleamed fire as he swore +a second vengeance upon the perpetrators of this intended foul, heinous +crime. The black demons of hell darted before his maddened stare, +laughing joyously, dancing happily, because of his great discomfiture. +He gripped the butt of his pistol, while his eyes lighted on a rifle, +which he snatched up, then started off in lone defense of his own +property. Nora, who had been watching him constantly, laid her hand upon +his shoulder. The touch was like magic upon his wearied soul.</p> + +<p>"Don't, Jack," she whispered softly, impressively. "Dad is quite right. +Ye are sure to git killed ef ye go down there to-night."</p> + +<p>Nora saw that Wade was filled with emotional indignity. For a moment he +was about to shake loose from her grasp, but he felt her grip on his arm +tighten.</p> + +<p>"For my sake, Jack."</p> + +<p>He turned and looked into her eyes. The light of real love shone from +them, and a thrill ran through his being.</p> + +<p>"For your sake I'd better go," he said.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + + +<p>Mounting his horse, Al Thompson rode rapidly along the ridge of the +mountain, with hot breath of hate steaming from his extended nostrils. +His soul cried out loudly for revenge, and he meant to fulfill its +desires though he brought all his friends into the quarrel. He meant to +murder the man who so grossly insulted him and belittled him in the +presence of the girl who was more to him than his own life, more to him +now than she had ever been before. As the road grew less rugged he +stiffened his pace, beating his horse over the flanks with his hat, +until he finally broke into a dead run. On he went with the breath of +fury still flying from his dilated nostrils, infuriated the more by the +low hanging limbs, until he reached the stream at the base of the +mountain, crossed over and turned up the main road, putting his horse to +his best, when he came in sight of a cabin, the very sight of which +seemed to lend strength to his tired body. He let out a terrible yell +and fired his pistol into the air to attract the inmates of the cabin, +who, upon hearing him and the pistol shots, rushed out feeling that a +terrible calamity was about to befall them. When they appeared in the +doorway Thompson cried out in an old, familiar way: "Git ready. Ther old +rock on ther mountain top—midnight. The cap'n says be thar shore."</p> + +<p>"Who's ther victim?" cried one.</p> + +<p>"Ther newcomer," answered Thompson.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Shore."</p> + +<p>Thompson was off again in a dead run before more questions could be +asked. These cabineers had heard the call from the same voice before, +and in the same manner, therefore did not hesitate to prepare. Thompson +reached another cabin, and went through the same maneuver, and a third, +the resultant effect being the same in every instance. He was quite +satisfied. His lying tongue had done its work and the outcome did not +worry him in the least. His heart and soul joined in crying for revenge, +and it should come at any cost to others.</p> + +<p>When the appointed hour of the night had come on, he, waiting until the +last moment, would ride up, driving right through the waiting crowd, +yell like a Comanche, and they would follow willingly. His plans were +working well, his lying heart was satisfied. He snarled like a wolf +which had found a piece of fresh meat.</p> + +<p>The night was dark. Heavy black clouds obscured the vision of the stars. +A clouded canopy overhung the entire world, the fierce lightning flashed +and shook its fiery tints over the sleeping mountain. The thunder peals +burst forth in loud report, the echo resounding down deep into the quiet +valley below. Save for the flashing lightning and the pealing thunder +all else was quiet. What a fearful night for a fearful deed! What a +night for the use of a black-hearted scoundrel! What a time for deeds +born of a charred heart!</p> + +<p>Jack Wade made no effort to sleep; he did not retire to the bunk in the +little room with Tom Judson. Old Peter did not wish to retire. It was in +his nature to see the alpha and omega of such deeds, he wanted to see it +all. Nora could not close her eyes in sleep, although prevailed upon to +do so. No, Jack Wade's own burdened heart pervaded the quiet atmosphere +about Peter Judson's home, and no one cared to seek rest. Even good old +dog Rover discovered in the funeral-like few about him that something +was about to go wrong, and went about from one to the other whining, +looking questioningly into their faces. Wade walked up and down, to and +fro, like a lion in a cage or a madman in confinement, so intense was +his anger because he couldn't prevent that which Judson had predicted +was sure to follow. He believed now that Peter Judson spoke the truth, +there was no reason, as he could figure, for his speaking anything else. +He believed Judson had warned him from his heart, because he wished to +save his life. Why should this old reprobate of a murderer desire that +he should live at all? He would not have warned other men, for he had +done so at his own peril. The consequences even now might lead to his +own death. The old man, who had been closely scrutinizing Wade's +troubled face, opened his mouth to speak.</p> + +<p>"Ye needn't take it so hard, boy," he said. "Ye kin build another cabin +like that in a few days, after ye git ther logs an' lumber out, that ye +kin, shore."</p> + +<p>As old Peter was speaking there came even then, down from toward the +mountain way, the wild yell of the Comanche.</p> + +<p>"Listen," said Peter, blowing out his light. "Thar ye air now. Don't say +a word nur make any noise. Let 'em go on by, a-thinkin' we air asleep, +an' ye'll see a putty sight soon. The fiends! the fiends! They're bent +on a-killin' of ye right now, Wade, an' gloatin' in their hearts cause +ye air mout nigh dead, so they think."</p> + +<p>The well-known clatter of the horses feet came nearer and nearer. Old +Peter stepped up close to Wade and laid his hand on his shoulder +reassuringly. On the other side of him Wade felt the warm breath of old +Peter's daughter, as she hovered close to him. She was consoling him in +her kind, simple way, and he thanked God in his heart that it was so. +Thus they stood, waiting, while the lightning flashed fiercer and the +thunder peals grew louder.</p> + +<p>Slowly the rain began to descend. Then suddenly, in that terrible moment +of anxious quietude, there burst forth through the midnight darkness a +faint ray of light which soon appeared a flame of fire, leaping and +dancing exultantly.</p> + +<p>"Thar ye air," exclaimed Judson. "Yer cabin'll be in ashes afore +mornin', jest as I told ye awhile ago."</p> + +<p>Silently the watchers watched, knowing full well what was in the heart +of Jack Wade. It was useless to try to hold conversation during that +awful period of suspense. Jack watched his little cabin burn, while the +flames, cracking and roaring, seemed to touch his own heart and set it +aflame also. The growing vengeance softened his feelings.</p> + +<p>"Let her burn," he said, "but one soul shall burn in hell for this +night's work."</p> + +<p>"Mor'n one," whispered Tom Judson.</p> + +<p>The significance of his remarks, however, was lost to Jack Wade, who +thought only of avenging himself now. No thought for anyone entered his +heart.</p> + +<p>For some time not a word was spoken, only watching; silently watching. +The flames reached high into the air, lighting up the landscape back +toward the mountain and over in the valley, although the cabin was a +small one. The yells of those revengeful men rent the midnight air while +all that was dear to Jack Wade was fast going down to ashes and utter +ruin.</p> + +<p>The horses' feet beat a heavy clattering retreat back up the road. When +they passed Peter Judson's cabin Wade slipped noiselessly out into the +darkness, struck the road and started, on foot, rapidly after the fast +retreating horsemen. He knew it would have been folly under ordinary +circumstances to have tried to catch up with them, but he figured they +would soon strike the roughest part of the hill where horses could not +travel fast, and he might by traveling rapidly catch up with them before +they left the mountain road.</p> + +<p>Old Peter Judson did not realize what the young man contemplated until +he was too far gone. When he came to a realization of the truth he swore +a blue streak and started out in search of "ther durn fool," who, for +some unknown reason, he had come to like.</p> + +<p>Jack Wade could hear the clattering noise of the horses as they rushed +over the rocky way. Fainter and fainter the noise grew until he could +hear it no more. Undismayed, however, he trudged on, in the hope of soon +finding some trace of those he pursued. The heavy raindrops pelted down +upon him, soaking his clothes until their weight became a burden to his +tired and weary limbs. On he went, regardless of distance, picking his +way by the light of an occasional flash of lightning, which made it more +necessary to grope his way when the lightning failed to give the needed +light, until when the gray streaks of early dawn appeared in the eastern +horizon he found himself many miles away from his burned cabin. Yet he +had discovered no trace of the perpetrators of the foul deed, whom he +had followed for almost half of the night.</p> + +<p>Water soaked, tired and worn in body and mind, he remembered that he had +not slept for twenty-four hours, nor had he eaten anything, save a +lunch, for nearly as long. Weak and sore of foot, he sat down on a +little hillock and leaned his head back against a boulder to get a +little much needed rest before attempting to start on his return journey +homeward. As he sat thus the dawn grew brighter, the streaks of light in +the eastern sky painting a few clouds a beautiful red. The mountain +scenery was still wrapped in silent mystery. Soon birds began their +chirping songs from their abode in the thickets, and all wild life was +beginning to stir. Dew-dipped grasses began to raise their heads to the +breaking light in obedience to the will of day, while the great heavy +overhanging clouds were fast dispersing, giving way to the power of the +coming dawn.</p> + +<p>The strenuousness of the day and night before had weakened Wade's system +until, when he closed his eyes against the growing beauty about him, he +fell fast asleep; but his weary, laden brain kept moving on. Before him, +in vision, the mighty lightning flashed, the great torrents of rain fell +and engulfed him. Suddenly there burst before his darkened vision a +licking flame of fire, from out of the midst of which came one bearing a +long-bladed knife in either hand. He was snarling like a wolf and +dancing jubilantly over his intended victim. The vision grew until the +knives were being brandished over his head, and he knew that it would be +only a moment until they should descend and his own heart would be cut +in twain. He seemed powerless to prevent. The sight was so fearful that +he became sick at heart and fainted away. His head bumped against a +boulder, and he awoke with a start.</p> + +<p>When he opened his eyes he saw standing over him in reality Al Thompson, +with hand poised high in the air, ready to descend. In that hand was a +long-bladed knife, sickening to behold.</p> + +<p>"Damn ye," said Thompson, between closely clamped teeth, "ye escaped me +somehow last night, but ye won't do it now. Ye mont as well say yer +prayers, an' say 'em quick, fer ye air a goner. I'll tear yer heart out +an' hang it on a pole an' take it back to ther gal."</p> + +<p>Thompson raised himself a little higher until he stood on the tips of +his toes, in order that the force of his blow might be felt more +heavily. The knife started on its descending mission of murder.</p> + +<p>Wade shuddered, he felt it was his last moment on earth. The +carelessness of falling to sleep bad given his enemy a great advantage. +But no, Fate was to save him. A rifle shot rang out over the mountain +stillness, the knife dropped to the ground, the band that had held it +fell limp to one side. With a cursing snarl and a howl of intense pain +Thompson quickly picked up the knife with his left hand and was about to +plunge it into the drowsy form of Jack Wade. Just at this juncture old +Peter Judson burst through the undergrowth and, in a commanding voice, +cried out: "Drap that knife, Al Thompson, or ye air a dead man right +thar!"</p> + +<p>Thompson, looking into the barrel of Peter's rifle, concluded that +chances were against him, and allowed the knife to fall harmless at +Wade's feet.</p> + +<p>"Ye'll not be after committin' murder on the mountain to-day," said +Judson.</p> + +<p>"So ye're helpin' ther newcomer, Judson, air ye?" asked Thompson +sullenly.</p> + +<p>"No, durn ye," replied Peter. "I'm helpin' you, ye fool. I'm seein' fair +play, too. Ye hain't satisfied ter burn up all a feller's cabin, an' +everything else ye kin git at, but ye want ter commit a dogged, dirty +murder right hyar afore my eyes. Ye git, now, Thompson, an' git quick."</p> + +<p>Knowing that it would gain him nothing to argue with Judson, Thompson +moved off, holding his crippled hand with the good one. Sending back a +parting shot, he darted out of sight.</p> + +<p>"Ye'll regret that act, Peter Judson," he said. Giving each of them a +sullen look, he was gone like a flash.</p> + +<p>"Ther dirty wolf!" exclaimed Peter, shaking his fist after the +retreating form of Thompson. Turning to Wade he asked: "What made ye +take sich a fool notion as this, boy?"</p> + +<p>Jack replied evasively. "You have saved me, Judson," he said, "and I +reckon my life is in your hands. Do as you like. By my own foolishness I +might have died twice, yea, thrice, in the last twenty-four hours, but +you have saved me."</p> + +<p>"What one man does for another is not to be talked about," said Peter. +"Jest ye don't be sich a fool any more. By yer foolishness, as ye call +it, ye have got me in ther same boat 'long side o' ye. I 'low thar'll be +no rest 'bout this hyar mountain till both of us is in our graves, fer +I've waked up ther devil from ther deep o' hell this day shore."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to have caused you this trouble," said Wade regretfully. "It +may have been better had that snarling wolf——"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" interrupted Peter. "Trouble o' this matter is ther kind I like +best. Let 'em tackle us when Tom's got his shootin' irons on an' his +shootin' eye open; he'll pick 'em off as fast as they kin come. Ye mind +what I'm a-tellin' ye, Wade. It's jest as true as what I told ye last +night, only they'll be a little more keerful 'bout ther time they take +ter burn Peter Judson's shanty. Did ye know ye air ten miles away from +home?"</p> + +<p>Jack did not know this.</p> + +<p>"Well, ye air, an' we'd better be a-gettin' back. Somebody'll bring some +hosses out ter meet us so's we won't have ter walk very far a-goin' +back."</p> + +<p>"Must have been a long chase for one like you," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Judson, "hit ain't so fer fer me as hit is fer you, I'll +tell ye that, Wade. I kin stand more walkin' right now than any feller +in this kintry. What'n ther world made ye go ter sleep when ye was on +sich a jolt as this?"</p> + +<p>Wade turned sharply on Peter. How did he know?</p> + +<p>"Don't ax ther question," said Judson, judging of what was on Wade's +mind. "I saw ye a long time afore ye woke up."</p> + +<p>They heard the sound of approaching horses farther down the road, and in +a few seconds Tom and Nora Judson hove into view with the mounts.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + + +<p>Jack Wade's new cabin was built much stronger and a little more +elaborately than the old one. It was not at all like the old one, nor +was it put up in quite the same location. It was built some twenty-five +feet eastward and faced the mountain, while the old one had faced just +the opposite. Besides, the new cabin had a small porch attached, while +the front of the old one was plain. Wade sat upon this little gallery, +pondering over the events of the past, much bewildered in mind on +account of the slow progress he had made toward his desired end, toward +the fulfillment of his avowed designs. He was unable to reason out many +things mysterious, one being the deep friendship for him that had sprung +up in the heart of that wicked old man, Peter Judson. It may have been, +he thought, because of the fact that old Jim Thompson had ridden hastily +up to Peter's cabin late one day and yelled to Peter that "they was now +enemies forever, an' ther war would last 'twixt 'em till one or t'other +was dead with their boots on," and Peter needed consolation and +friendship. Old Peter, however, had replied to Jim Thompson:</p> + +<p>"Maybe ye want a little of it right now. Ef yer do, jest git down off o' +yer hoss an' I'll give ye all ye want, ye beggar."</p> + +<p>Angered to the toes, old Jim struck his horse with the spurs and rode +rapidly away toward the mountain, firing back at Peter as he went. He +would, no doubt, have shot Peter in his own yard, had he not seen Tom +sitting in the cabin door with a Winchester lying across his arms, and +he knew only too well that the aim of the slender youth was true. He +knew well that, as old Peter had said, Tom would pick him off his saddle +before he could even fire at Peter. Discretion, therefore, being the +better part of valor, he bridled his anger and rode away without +deigning to make reply to old Peter's challenge, cursing and snorting, +breathing hot revenge against his enemies.</p> + +<p>Wade knew of these circumstances; he knew that his own folly had brought +about these conditions, and it was his human duty to aid the Judsons all +he could, because they had been nothing but friends to him. The gleaming +dark eyes of that girl of the wilds were ever before him, he could not +rid himself of their presence, try as he would. They were an everlasting +companion, and he was not altogether sorry that it was so, for in his +most lonely hours he looked out into the dreamy space and saw them, and +they made him feel less lonely. He had spent much time with Nora, +sometimes at her father's cabin, sometimes hunting over the mountain, +sometimes angling in the brook, and sometimes up the country road +between the two cabins. The old brindle cow had not quit getting under +the wire,—at any rate, she got out very often, and always headed down +the road, never toward the mountain. Probably she was a lazy cow and did +not like the idea of a steep climb up the hill, though the grass was +sweeter up that way. However that may be, she always went <i>down</i> the +road. Constant companionship had drawn Jack and Nora closer together, +and Wade was teaching her in such a kind way that she took no offense +whatever. He brought to her new books to read, which she devoured +eagerly as a child learning its letters.</p> + +<p>When she was not busy with some domestic duties, Nora was out in some +nook remote from the cabin devouring the contents of a book. She was an +apt scholar and learned rapidly. She would say "ye" only when speaking +in great haste; other times she said "you." In one book that she read +the heroine was a country girl like herself, and would say "hit" and +"ye" like she did, and she discovered in reading that she was not +properly educated as to the use of language, therefore she applied +herself the harder. She took special delight in this book, and read it +the second time, being greatly pleased with the sweet little character, +the country girl, who, before the novel closed, went off to college in +the big city and, after a few years study, came home refined in manners +and neat in dress. This same country girl was ever afterward her own +model, because she became gentle and kind, and married the millionaire's +son, to the satisfaction of all concerned. Jack Wade was in her mind's +eye the very hero himself. She thought of him as a big-hearted, +generously kind boy, whose sole hope was to benefit someone else, though +he might be personally affected by so doing.</p> + +<p>She thought of him as a great wise man who was spending his life out in +the mountains for her special benefit. She thought of him by day, and +when night came on, the hideous night of darkness, when her awakened +soul longed for light, she thought of him. When her body passed into the +oblivion of peaceful slumber she dreamed of him, of the man who had done +so much toward enlightening her mind and soul, who had brought her out +of the darkness and set her upon a high pinnacle of knowledge, where +light shone in on her benighted being and she saw. He had spoken to her +of God, a great God, Maker of the mighty universe, as no one had ever +before spoken to her. The light shone brighter from his eyes as he +talked to her about things of which she had hitherto known nothing. The +song of the little bird in the tree top, the little wild bird, sounded +sweeter than it was wont in times past. Their notes came clearer and had +a new meaning. Her darkened soul opened wide its closed windows and the +light came streaming in until she saw through different eyes. Her +interest in the wild, golden-headed flowers that grew in great profusion +along the ridge of the mountain grew day by day, until she felt she must +plant a garden of her own somewhere near the cabin, so that she could go +out and work among the flowers and talk with them. Her very soul yearned +for something new, something it had not felt before.</p> + +<p>She was kind and tender toward her big brown dog, in which she now saw a +true friend. They had always been friends in a way, but that way had +been to kick him and speak gruffly to him. Those things she did no more. +She did not kick the old brindle cow in the flanks and say: "Saw thar, +durn ye! or ye'll git yer head knock off," but the rather she pushed her +gently and spoke kindly to her. "Be very careful, Brindle, don't step on +my toes or turn the milk over, I am not going to hurt you." So the old +brindle cow saw and knew and quit blinking her eyes when Nora was near. +She formerly began blinking when she saw the girl coming out of the +house with the milk pails, because she had grown to expect a crack over +the solid portion of her head before the milking process began. The +consequence of a life of continued abuses was that she had formed a +great habit of blinking both eyes when near one of the feminine gender. +Not so any more. The old cow naturally wondered at the strange, sweet +change, her own life was made the more peaceful because no one set the +dog to biting her heels every time she poked her head around the corner +of the barn, and she did not kick out her "hind" leg every time the dog +came near, because the dog didn't bite her any more. They were good +friends now. A cow has good sense, and can do a terrible sight of +thinking when it comes to the way things are going on about milking +time. Her teats were not whacked with a big stick on a cold winter day +any more because she did not feel like standing in one position so long, +and peace reigned within her heart.</p> + +<p>Nora's touch became more gentle and she squeezed the lacteal fluid from +the bovine with more consideration, all the while humming sweet songs +softly to herself, and the old cow heard and knew. She heard Nora say +"father" when she spoke to old Peter. Only on rare occasions would she +spurt out in the same old way with "Dad," and then be sorry because she +had allowed herself to become agitated to such an extent. Everyone noted +the great change, but none dared to speak, lest they should disturb +her—except Tom, who chided kindly occasionally. They all knew and +understood perfectly, and the knowledge was kept secretly in their own +bosoms.</p> + +<p>Jack Wade thought of all these things too, as he sat on his own little +gallery looking wistfully toward the big mountain, with heart bowed in +submission to the will of fate. Since his old cabin was burned there had +come a great change in his own life. His desires had changed, his +purposes seemed different, but he fought it all out courageously. +Murderous design was still lodged in his heart. He longed to commit that +deed, which done and within itself is a power to bring a man's soul to +the deepest depths of degradation and sorrow, to the very brink of hell. +His certain knowledge that the savage Al Thompson was only waiting an +opportunity to drive to the hilt the knife that would pierce his heart, +or from ambush send a bullet from a forty-four Winchester crashing +through his brain, weighed upon his mind. These thoughts did not deter +him nor move him one inch from his original motive, which, if life was +spared him, would be fulfilled to the letter. As Wade sat gazing out +through the bright sunlight the big brown dog, Nora's pet, came gliding +silently through the gateway and paced up before him. He looked around +quickly as the dog; wagging his long, hairy tail, stepped upon the +porch.</p> + +<p>"What omen have you brought to me this fine day, Rover?" he said, +speaking to the dog, all the while rubbing his hand over the shaggy +head. "What could have caused you to visit me at this hour?"</p> + +<p>The dog just continued to wag his tail and lick the big hands that +petted him. Rover had grown to like the big strong young man who was so +often with his mistress, and thought perhaps a call at this time would +not be out of place.</p> + +<p>"This country is terribly agitated just now. Rover," said Wade. "You +must watch your mistress closely, and should you think any harm is +likely to befall her, you must come and tell me quick."</p> + +<p>The dog wagged his tail, seeming to understand fully what Wade was +saying.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + + +<p>Up near the mountain no one ever spoke to another concerning anything +that happened. Not a word ever escaped the lips of those sturdy farmers. +If somebody was killed, that somebody was buried by his own people, and +the wailing and gnashing of teeth was confined chiefly to the unhappy +kin-folk. There were none to console them, no one condoled with them, +they grieved in solitude.</p> + +<p>In the village it was quite different, though even there no one dared to +speak openly against an individual or a "click" or "clan." The fact that +someone had been murdered by the terrible "Black ghosts of the night," +or that the settlers had been terrified by the fearful, hideous howlings +of the ravagers of peace, concerned everyone in the village, and old +women talked of it over the fence, old men jabbered about it as they sat +on dry-goods boxes, whittling on the soft pine boxes or squirting great +streams of tobacco juice between their two first fingers, watching it +until it struck the earth some six feet away or flowed gently down the +boot leg of someone standing dangerously near. One old man, fearless on +account of his many years in the country, did say once that "them damn +Riders ought all to be hung by the neck until they were dead." When he +had said that he dropped his head to spit, and when he raised it again +he was alone, every man near him having slipped quietly away, leaving +him to his own way of thinking.</p> + +<p>Men gathered together up the valley way, but they talked farm products +straight and "wunk" at each other in a knowing way. There was one farm +upon which an immense tobacco crop had sprung up, and the eyes of every +farmer in the community were cast toward it. Not in many years had so +many men passed that way. Not in many days had there been so many +clandestine meetings over the country, mostly around and beyond the +mountain. What was it all about? It surely meant ill for someone, but +for whom? That was the great question.</p> + +<p>Jack Wade had gone to visit the city, Nora Judson was busy with her +domestic duties, and Tom had gone on a jaunt over the hill, while the +warehouse operator remarked to his companion that he had been appointed +special officer, that the regular officers were afraid of their shadows, +and would not move a peg, and the Nightriders were gathering again and +destruction was imminent. It had been mere chance that had put him next +to the business that bid fair to bring much sport, and he was going with +his trusty rifle and faithful horse to see if he couldn't arrest a Rider +before morning. As he was in sore need of a companion, he invited his +friend to accompany him. The matter looked so feasible, and as the +Riders had given both of them so much trouble, he consented to go along +as an assistant to the appointed officer. Of what was to happen he +received perfect knowledge from the warehouse man.</p> + +<p>Wade also was deeply interested. A certain barn with its contents of +high-priced tobacco was to be burned by two lone Nightriders, and this +fact—that there would be only two—was hailed with great pleasure, for +the chances would not only be equal, but the advantage was decidedly +with the officers, as they were cognizant of the raid contemplated, +while the Riders were totally in the dark regarding their knowledge or +identity.</p> + +<p>The arrangement was that they should meet at a certain place and proceed +out of Guthrie to a given point some distance out and some distance +still on the other side of the mountain. Wade knew the exact spot where +they were to locate themselves in hiding until the Nightriders should +pass, and he also knew what their intentions were after that. His great +longing to learn something more of the terrible Nightriders, and of the +manner in which it was expected they would be handled on this occasion, +caused him to make a hurried trip back to his own cabin to make hasty +arrangements for a long ride through the darkness of night. When his +clock tolled the hour nine he began that tedious lonesome ride down the +valley. Uppermost in his mind was the movements and actions of the +Nightriders, who had become active again and who were threatening with +utter destruction the entire country, composed of twenty-two counties of +the richest soil in Kentucky and Tennessee. Notices had been posted +everywhere, giving warning to the open raisers, stating that no man +should attempt to sell tobacco openly, that he who was not for the +association was against it. One was found on Wade's own gatepost, and he +gave it deep, thoughtful consideration. He had fully intended raising a +very large crop of tobacco the coming season, and he intended doing it +openly, unless his mind should be changed in the meantime.</p> + +<p>Wade rode on, putting his horse to a trot, then as time went by, to a +gallop. Had it not been for the brightly shining little stars the night +would have been utter darkness, but the twinkling little heavenly bodies +lighted the way sufficiently well to allow of seeing and keeping the +beaten road. Thoughts concerning happenings of the past were flitting +rapidly through Wade's brain, tumbling one over the other in rapid +succession, in their great hurry to get through, while he traveled on, +unmindful of the awful darkness that encompassed him or of the +blood-curdling deeds which would be committed on that memorable night. +At last, tired and sore, he reached the vicinity of the barn soon to be +burned and the vicinity of a community where murder, foul to some and +gladsome to the hearts of others, would soon be committed.</p> + +<p>Jack Wade had learned through his experiences of the past to be very +cautious on all occasions, more especially on occasions like the present +one, therefore he sought out a quiet dark spot in the brush and waited +silently to see what should happen. The distance he had traveled brought +him very late at the goal, so he was compelled to wait not long before +he saw sights enough to weaken the heart of the strongest man.</p> + +<p>The little stars twinkled on from their orbits in the sky, the cuckoo +sang from a remote distance, the woodland animals scampered over their +runs, making the dry leaves crack as they flurried on. Suddenly a faint +light arose over the woodland, and grew until it lighted up the whole +country around the anxious watcher. It became so very light where he was +that he was compelled to recede deeper into the underbrush. The great +flame grew brighter and higher, leaping heavenward at every bound, +making a terrible, cracking noise. Wade's heart beat heavily against his +bosom, but he watched on. Not a great way off he heard the cracking of +the dry twigs. It was much heavier than the noise made by scampering +animals, and he knew instantly that the two officers were near. He +continued to keep silent, listening breathlessly to every sound. Soon +there came to his listening ears the heavy sound or clatter of rapidly +retreating horses. The riders passed his hiding-place and on they flew, +pushing their horses to full speed over the rough trail. Then, "Oh, +God!" In the next moment there rang out upon the midnight stillness the +terrible "crack!" of a death-dealing rifle, and in response a boy went +down to the earth heavily. Some mother's idol received a wound that +would take him hurriedly into eternity. His horse sped on, riderless. +Another "crack!" from those rifles and the other horse was killed in his +tracks, falling near the dying lad, while his rider, untouched, unhurt, +darted off into the thick sheltering brush and was seen no more.</p> + +<p>Those who had fired the shots that caused death and sorrow, weeping and +wailing, listened not to the wailing of the dying boy, heard not his +pitiful moaning, nor his distressed cry for assistance, but thinking of +themselves dashed off through the brush, to safety, in an opposite +direction. They had <i>got a Rider</i>, and were evidently well satisfied +with their night's work. <i>Fiends</i>, may the tortures of hell be theirs!</p> + +<p>Jack Wade, born with a love for his fellow-man, did hear and heed that +dying wail, and slowly led his own good steed out from his hiding-place +and on to the groaning one. He bent over him and looked into his +contorted face with a heavy, sorrowful heart. He was not dead, but +dying.</p> + +<p>"Friend or foe," whispered the youth, as Wade appeared over him.</p> + +<p>"Friend," replied Wade.</p> + +<p>"Then you didn't shoot me?"</p> + +<p>"No. Thank God, I didn't shoot you, lad." Tears were gathering in Wade's +eyes.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you didn't, stranger," said the lad. "I'm Fred Conover, and +I'm dying now. I can feel the cold, clammy sweat of death gathering over +me, my eyes are blinded until all is dark. I know that the death call +has been sounded to me, and I am going, going, but I am dying for a good +cause." He gasped his words now. "Stranger," he whispered, softly, "you +may not be a Rider—you ought to be. You may not be in open revolt +against us—you should not be. Listen, stranger, listen well to my last +words on earth, that you may carry them to the heart of every man in +this community, to the heart of every well-thinking man in the world, +that all the world may know we are right. My father was once a +well-to-do, honest, faithful farmer, but the trusts and combined wealth +put his nose to the grind-stone. I must speak quick. But for them we +could have lived nicely and comfortable. They took everything and +forced—stranger, help the Riders, for in doing so you are helping the +poor people, the struggling millions. You are helping the widow and +orphans, you are helping those who must die of starvation unless the +fight is kept up a few more years. Tell them I died willingly for them, +that my heart is with them in my dying moments; that I shall carry the +burden to God; that I do not hesitate, have no fear, and tell my +father——"</p> + +<p>The boy threw his head back, raised his breast, then fell to the earth +once more. Jack Wade raised the lad's head and placed it gently upon his +own limb, that he might remember he died there. The small bottle of +whiskey which Wade took out from town was still in his pocket and he +gave the boy of it to drink.</p> + +<p>"I thought that was my last moment," said the boy, after sipping the +whiskey. "I feel quite relieved now. They are mean, stranger," he +continued, with a catching breath. "Those fellows will raise tobacco for +the trusts, and <i>must</i> be handled severely. I do not regret my action, I +do not regret that my last act was to apply the torch to yon burning +building. No, I do not."</p> + +<p>Here was an opportunity, Wade thought, to learn something of interest, +so he placed his lips close to the dying lad's ear and asked if he knew +John Redmond before he was killed.</p> + +<p>"I knew him well," he replied, gasping for breath, "and he was the +grandest——"</p> + +<p>The head fell limp, the boy breathed his last. Fred Conover was <i>dead</i>.</p> + +<p>Immediately the surroundings took on a death-chamber appearance. Wade +removed his limb from beneath the dead boy's head and laid him gently +upon the cold, damp earth. Beside him was the carcass of the big black +horse which fell dead at the same time the boy went down. They were both +dead. The pall grew heavier. Wade raised himself, looked at the horse, +then into the deathly pale face of the boy, raising his head slowly +until he looked into the heavens, then said:</p> + +<p>"O God, Thou great God, Thou hast, through thy mercy, saved me from this +awful deed."</p> + +<p>He let his head drop again.</p> + +<p>"That was a dog of a deed for an officer to commit," he said mentally. +"It was nothing but cold-blooded murder. Why did he not show himself and +make an effort to arrest, rather than do murder in this fashion, the +dirty coward!" said Wade, with a wave of his head. "You are free just +now, but freedom shall be taken from you for this night's ghastly work, +for this foul deed which has taken from earth all that was dear to a +good mother and father. If you hang"—Wade shook his fist toward the +brush tragically—"the shame and sorrow shall fall upon your own head +and heart."</p> + +<p>Throwing his coat over the dead form, Wade drew it to one side and +departed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + + +<p>Wade was very excited in thought and action as he rode out through the +darkness of the night to go to the home of Fred Conover's father. He had +covered the body with his own toga, and he felt the necessity for it as +he split the cool night air in his great haste to get the news to the +old father, whom he would surely find waiting anxiously to learn what +success the boy had met with. Unmindful of any danger to himself, though +the country was well stirred up, he raced on, looking neither to his +right nor to his left, but kept his sight straight ahead and his +thoughts far beyond. He shook his head gravely as he pondered over the +events that had transpired, were transpiring, and would transpire in the +future. He knew now much more of the conditions confronting the poor +farmers of this part of the world, knew of the terrible struggle into +which they had entered for the mere maintenance of their own immediate +families, knew more of the feelings existing among them, and wondered no +longer that they had taken such desperate means to relieve themselves of +the yoke of bondage which had been placed upon their freedom, to tie +them to the heart-eating trusts, which were dogging out their lives, +eating to the marrow of their bones.</p> + +<p>Wade had now reached the rise of the hill. In front of him, a little way +beyond, was a dense thicket through which he must go. He went on, +regarding not the deeper gathering gloom nor the many dangers +accompanying. As he neared the thicket he was suddenly confronted by a +night prowler, who commanded him to halt. This he did immediately, +without hesitation, while he was in his present state of mind, not +desiring an encounter with anyone.</p> + +<p>"Git down, quick," said the voice of one who held the bridle at the +horse's head with one hand, while a pistol held by the other hand was +pointed directly at Wade's breast.</p> + +<p>For a moment Wade was on the point of reaching for his own pistol and +fighting it out, but as his hand started back he heard the command: "Ye +needn't do that. Ef ye make a move I'll blow yer brains out."</p> + +<p>Wade now reached the conclusion that he was being held up by a +highwayman, and the best thing for him to do would be to comply with his +request, for he knew that these fellows in this country, highwayman or +Nightrider, were as desperate in character as the most blackened +criminal the world holds. He got quietly down.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the captor, "turn yer back to me."</p> + +<p>Reluctantly Wade did this very thing. He had some little misgivings in +doing so, for he might be shot in the back.</p> + +<p>Not so. The midnight marauder merely took his pistols from his pockets, +placed them in the saddle-bags and got quietly upon the horse. Turning +to Wade, who stood disconsolate, he said: "I'll return yer hoss, +stranger, an' thank ye fer the use o' him, till I can git one o' my +own." Then he galloped off as though nothing had taken place, never +looking back again.</p> + +<p>Awe-struck and indignant, Wade stood beneath the shining stars for one +moment just as he had been left, gazing intently after the fast fleeing +horse and his mysterious rider, then resumed his journey on foot. He +reproached himself that he was a great "mummy," that he had come into +this country on an errand of revenge and had placed himself more than a +half dozen times right between the jaws of his enemies, between the +snapping jaws of death. He figured that fate must have thrown a strong +guard around his life to save him for a special purpose. All these +thoughts came into his mind as he trudged weary and footsore across the +rugged country, picking his way as best he could under the +circumstances.</p> + +<p>Instead of trying to make his way direct to Conover's farm, he turned in +the direction of his own home, and at some time just before daybreak +pulled up at Peter Judson's gate, where he "helloed" until old Peter, +with rifle in hand, showed himself at the door and cried:</p> + +<p>"Who air ye, that wants ter bother a feller at sich a time o' ther +mornin'?"</p> + +<p>"Wade," came the reply.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Peter. "Come on in, boy. What'n thunder brings ye at +sich a hour as this?"</p> + +<p>"Didn't you see the fire?" returned Wade.</p> + +<p>"Sure. Did ye think I didn't know it would be?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know," replied Wade, "but I thought I'd tell you that Fred +Conover has been killed, and——"</p> + +<p>"Thunder, ye say!" interrupted Peter. "Thunder, ye say!" he repeated. +"What do yer mean by tellin' me that, Wade; is it really true?"</p> + +<p>"It is really true, Judson, and I thought I'd come by and get Tom to go +over to Conover's with me to give the news."</p> + +<p>"Ye needn't, Wade; they'll have it long afore ye kin git thar with it, +an' besides ye cain't git Tom fer anything fer awhile. He's been shot +through ther leg."</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"It's true, too, Wade. I told ye what'd happen when we went after them +Thompsons. It's war ter ther death 'twixt us, shore. Tom met old Jim +an' 'nuther feller over ther hill ter-day, an' ther fun commenced right. +They both opened fire on Tom, but he didn't budge a step till he'd +throwed old Jim flat o' his back, an' he'd a-throwed t'other feller, +too, ef it hadn't been fer that sneakin' Al, who slipped through ther +woods like a snake a-crawlin' on his belly, an' let in on him, an' shot +him through ther leg. Seein' he was shot an' bleedin' putty bad, Tom lit +out fer home, 'thout seein' what'd happened after the smoke o' battle +cleared away. Me an' the good gal, hyar, a-hearin' of ther shootin', +pitched out over ther hill with our Winchesters, jest ter git a little +o' ther fun while hit was a-goin' on, an' we seed Tom a-comin' an' +a-fightin' back, with his shot leg a-hangin' loose over the hoss. Me an' +Nory give a Comanche yell what they knowed, an' when them durn fellers +heered us they turned heels an' took out t'other way 'bout as fast as ye +ever seed anybody git over ther mountain in yer life."</p> + +<p>Peter Judson told of these circumstances as unconcernedly as if it had +been play. It was real fun to him. The noise of battle suited him much +better than the quiet of peace. Turning to Wade, he asked, "What did ye +do with yer hoss?"</p> + +<p>"Someone held me up and took him from me," Wade replied.</p> + +<p>"Ye don't know these people yet, Wade," said Peter, after a moment of +silence. "Don't ye know that hit was Fred's pard what tuck yer hoss? An' +he's done spread ther news over ther whole kintry by now, an' long afore +ye got out o' ther woods. Ye needn't bother 'bout goin' over. Ther old +man'll be so wild when he hears o' this that he'll want ter kill every +feller he meets. Ther committees what sent them two boys out on that job +oughter have their own necks strung up ter a tree, that's shore. That's +what oughter happen ter them. Now, yer needn't worry, Wade. Ye'll git +yer hoss back all right. I'm shore o' that, an' ther shootin' irons, +too. Seems like hit ain't no use fer ye ter have any shootin' irons, +'cause ye never have used 'em, yet, have ye?"</p> + +<p>"Doesn't look as though I have any great use for them."</p> + +<p>"No, hit don't, Jack. But ye mout use 'em sometime. Better have 'em +along anyhow, when ye meet a Thompson, 'cause ye air shore ter need 'em +then. Now, Wade, I reckon ye hadn't better git angry 'cause that boy +borried yer hoss. Hit won't do ye any good, an' hit mout do ye harm. +Ye'll git him back agin. Tom won't be sore long, an' when he gits well +'nough so's he kin git 'bout a little, ye kin listen out fer ther crack +o' rifles in good shape. Come on in an' we'll git somethin' ter eat, +after hit gits good'n daylight. I want ter have 'nuther talk with ye, +sorter face ter face like, afore ye leave me agin. This durn kintry is +stirred up from ther top o' ther hill ter ther bottom o' ther creek, +an' then some on t'other side, an' ye'll see some hot flames, one after +t'other, an' hear o' how hell is raised, an' see many fellers turn up +their heels afore long, ef I don't miss my guess putty bad. Them trust +fellers is determined ter drive us all out o' ther kintry, or see us go +ter ther graves as poor as Job's turkey—however poor that was—an' they +do say that they was mouty poor; but, by gad, they'll have a tough time +a-doin' of it! Ther bother of a feud with old Jim Thompson an' his mean +gang hain't nuthin' long side o' what's a-goin' ter happen 'bout hyar +soon. Ther worst o' ther whole thing, Wade, is that ther air so many in +ther association what'll raise terbacker fer ther trusts. Them's ther +fellers as is ther hardest ter go up agin, an' ther ones as oughter have +ther neck broken. They'll sell ther stuff fer three an' six cents a +pound when they mout as well git eighteen an' twenty fer ther same +terbacker; but no, they'd ruther go ahead agin everybody an' agin +therselves, an' sell cheap. They'll have a time a-sellin' that terbacker +this year fer that price. We cain't raise terbacker fer five cents a +pound an' come out even, let alone makin' a livin' out'n it. Ther durn +fools!"</p> + +<p>Old Peter Judson generally warmed up when talking over the tobacco +situation, and he cared but little to whom he was talking, nor who heard +him, when he used rough language. His greatest expression was "Ther durn +fool!" and when he exclaimed in that fashion he was generally done with +that subject or person.</p> + +<p>"They'll git ther fill of it all right this season," Peter continued, +after a pause, wherein he caught a second breath, "they'll git plenty of +it. Why, let me tell ye, Wade, what happened one time, an' I'm a-tellin' +ye fer yer own good. I don't want ye ter git yourself inter that deep +hole what I told ye 'bout one day, ther time I told ye a feller mout git +inter his own hole, remember?" Jack did remember. "Well," continued +Peter, "there was a feller onct,—an' he's over t'other side yet,—by +ther name o' Mike Donovan. Mike is a old Irish settler, 'bout ther fust +ter come hyar. Ye've heerd o' him, no doubt. Well, he tuck a hot Irish +notion in his thick head ter run things his own way 'bout hyar, but ther +balance o' ther farmers wouldn't have it that way 'tall. They tried +their level best ter git old Mike to join the association, but he got +hard-headed an' said he'd be durned ef he joined any sich association o' +fools as was scattered 'bout this valley; that he'd raise as much +terbacker as he wanted ter hisself accordin' to his own feelin's in +that, an' he'd sell hit ter who he wanted, an' fer what he wanted ter. +Now, Wade, ye know well 'nough that ther farmers cain't go agin sich +hard-headedness as that an' win out, 'course ye do. Any fool'd know +that, so they begged him ter quit his foolishness an' join ther +association like a good feller, an' git more fer his trouble o' raisin' +terbacker; but ye know how a Irisher is on that point. They won't give +in ter nobody fer nuthin'; so he wouldn't come in. Well, in the course +o' time he done like he said he would do, an' raised a big crop o' +terbacker. He had a notion that he'd fool everybody 'round hyar, an' he +did try it. A committee was 'pinted ter call on him once more an' ax him +fer to quit, but he wouldn't. He went on an' raised ther terbacker an' +made open threats that he'd take it ter town on a certain day, in +wagons. He tried it all right. Ther committee, ter give him 'nuther +chance, called on him agin, an' tried ter git him ter keep his terbacker +in his barns fer a little while longer, but he just perlitely told ther +committee that they could go ter 'h,' followed by an 'e' two 'els.' Now, +Wade, that feller loaded nine wagons with good terbacker an' started off +to Hopkinsville with it."</p> + +<p>Peter Judson paused again for new breath.</p> + +<p>"Did he get there with it?" asked Wade interestedly.</p> + +<p>"Git thar, did ye say, Wade, git thar! Ye durn fool, d'ye think them +farmers'd have their plans spoiled by that old hot-headed Irisher? No, +he didn't git thar with it. Do ye mind ther old-fashioned zigzag rail +fences in some parts o' this kintry?"</p> + +<p>Wade remembered having seen them.</p> + +<p>"Well, at a certain turn in ther road whar ther fence is built out o' +'em, a powerful gang o' good farmers met Mike Donovan an' his fine train +o' terbacker, an' axed him ef he wouldn't please be so kind an' turn +back with it an' store it in his barns a little while longer. 'No,' said +Mike, 'I won't,' an' he whipped his horses an' said, 'Git up!' But them +horses couldn't budge a inch. 'Turn back,' said ther leader. Mike jest +sot thar an' never moved. All ther time men was a-gittin' them rails off +that old rail fence an' a-pilin' 'em up in ther road. Still ther +stubborn Mike Donovan wouldn't turn back. They kivered him with a +forty-four Winchester, while one wagonload o' terbacker was piled on +ther rails. 'Will ye turn back, Mike?' they asked. Mike said never a +word. 'Nuther load was piled on ther rails, an' a row o' rails on top o' +that, an' they axed Mike agin ter turn back. He jest stood thar +a-sullen. Every load o' terbacker was piled on ther rails, one row o' +rails an' one load o' terbacker, an' still old Mike wouldn't give in. +Well, ye kin guess ther rest, Wade, cain't ye? No? Well, that was one o' +ther puttiest fires I ever seed, an' ther air was so full o' pure +terbacker smoke that some o' them told me they didn't have ter smoke +their pipes fer three or four days after that fire. All they had to do +was to git out on their porch, raise their head a little an' draw in a +good long breath, then spit her out, an' they was done smoking fer a +while. Mike Donovan—did ye ax what 'bout him, ther durn fool? Course he +turned back, but he didn't have no money, nur any terbacker ter store in +his barns."</p> + +<p>Daylight was approaching and Peter, looking in the direction of Jack +Wade's cabin, exclaimed, "Thar's yer hoss now, Wade."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + + +<p>Is the longing of the human soul but a delusion? Does it catch the +fragrance of immortality, as the little honeybee catches the fragrance +of the dew-dipped mountain flowers, and reach out with a longing far +beyond human ken?</p> + +<p>Jack Wade sighed as he sat out on his little porch gazing through the +sunlight to the eastward. Far away, yet not so far, loomed the outline +of the Cumberland, as a shadow rising out of the mist, towering above +the lesser mountains nearer. All round him in his own community men were +making silent and cautious preparation for some unknown deed. Beyond the +hills, where the agitation was greatest, men were making preparation for +terrible destruction. Orders were being sent hurriedly through the +country, the courier being unknown and unseen.</p> + +<p>Wade knew that the messenger of destruction, if not death, was "the +Wolf, Night-Watch," the very person whom he had long been looking for +and feeling for, but to no avail, for he had found him not. The very men +whom he would have at one time killed on sight, had he known then as +much as he did now, were those who had on more than one occasion saved +him from death, men whom he now believed had wound themselves so +thoroughly about his heart as to cause him to love rather than hate +them. Through his mind ran thoughts of things that had been done so long +as to be almost forgotten by others, but they clung to his memory as a +reminder of what men would do again. In his heart was nothing but hatred +for the man who shot Fred Conover to death, and he would far rather put +a bullet through his heart than any other man he knew, even Al Thompson. +Thompson, he knew, was always somewhere about looking for him, that he +might put a bullet into his brain or a knife into his heart.</p> + +<p>Wade was to the Judsons a seemingly fast friend, and therefore must be +firmly against the Thompsons. Regarded in this light, it was only +necessary to meet one of the avowed enemy and someone would go out of +this world of trouble.</p> + +<p>Time passes swiftly over our heads. It won't wait for any human being. +The pace of humanity is entirely too slow for old Father Time, who only +looks once as he glides swiftly on. Things can't all happen in a day. +Sometimes one could look out through the darkened gloom and see away in +the distance the brightness of a flame leaping high and sending great +sparks heavenward. Some poor deluded human being, some weak human being, +was no doubt losing all of his earthly possessions—his tobacco crop. +Sometimes one could listen out over the star-lit earth, when all else +slumbered peacefully in the very arms of nature, and catch the faint +report of a rifle shot; and had he been nearer to the scene of the +conflict could perhaps have heard the groan of a dying soul as it made +its last farewell gasp and flitted into eternity. Such is life where +strife and turmoil are uppermost in the human heart and mind.</p> + +<p>Wade looked back for one moment over the vast expanse of the past and +saw all; then he closed his eyes and looked into the future. It was all +blank; his mind kept to the present. For one moment he was gazing into +the dark eyes of Nora Judson, the next into the translucent waters of +the little brook on the banks of which he had sat whiling away many +happy hours beside the girl who was such an ardent student of nature, +and in whom he had never dreamed there could have been so much hidden +beauty and real wisdom. Slowly had she ascended the ladder of knowledge, +through his personal instructions and the books he gave her, until she +stood on the last round on the tips of her toes, reaching far out into +the unknown in eagerness to grasp what she believed lurked there. She +was fit to be a queen, to be the companion of the highest man in the +land.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, Wade had gained no actual knowledge nor wisdom. He +had, however, gained a knowledge of nature which could not have been +impressed upon him through the mere reading of books. He had gained a +knowledge of the great necessity of higher education; he had gained a +certain knowledge of how desperate men would struggle for what they +believed was rightly their own, how they would lay down their lives for +the principles which they thought were just and true. Such knowledge is +well gained, and assists the educated and enlightened to a higher plane +of equal thought. The person who never reads has no knowledge of what is +going on in the outside world, and we dare to say that the person who +reads only knows nothing of the great struggle going on in the hearts of +the down-trodden farmers whose lives have been made burdensome by the +great evil, the greatest of all other evils, the powerful trusts, trusts +which hold at the throat of every farmer a great, sharp knife, one so +sharp that it is useless to move forward or backward lest life become +extinct. The farmer does not stand alone in the path of this terrible +evil, though he has taken the brunt of the battle in an effort to +unburden all humanity of the awful weight of this heavy yoke, bearing +down on the poor of the entire country with such crushing force that the +time has come when one can hardly maintain an existence so strong is the +yoke and so securely has it been fastened around the necks of humanity +everywhere.</p> + +<p>Jack Wade thought of all this, thought of all that had happened. Above +Tom Judson was lying in bed with a bullet hole through the fleshy part +of his left leg just below the thigh. Across the brook old Jim Thompson +was lying in bed writhing in agony because of a bullet hole through his +right shoulder. This was the result of conditions brought about by the +everlasting drudgery of mankind.</p> + +<p>In both cases the patients were rapidly mending, the danger point long +since having been passed, and each was cursing the other and swearing +revenge. Wade sat with heart and head bowed, therefore did not know of +the approach of Rover, his good friend, until he felt his furry head rub +against his hand.</p> + +<p>"Good friend," he said, looking into the eyes of the great brown dog, +"when you come to see me in this manner I always look for disastrous +results. What can it be now, old friend? Is your mistress well, or has a +calamity befallen her? Is her brother worse, or what has happened?"</p> + +<p>The dog wagged his tail in a friendly fashion. Suddenly he looked toward +the road and barked. Wade glanced hastily in the direction indicated by +the dog's head and there, grazing leisurely beside the fence, was the +old brindle cow, the cow that had in times past brought him in close +touch with the once wild flower of the valley. A spark of joy leaped +into his sorrowful heart, for he knew that the mistress of the valley +would soon come in search of the cow, and he would be happy then. With +eyes cast in the direction of Peter Judson's home, he still sat +thinking, just thinking, unconsciously smoothing the hairy head of the +good old dog Rover, who seemed perfectly satisfied to sit on his +haunches and listen to the tinkling of the cowbells as the cows munched +grass lower down in the valley. Roundabout the little wild birds were +singing sweetly in their freedom, their joyous notes swelling through +the gathering gloom. No thought of trouble was in their hearts, no +sorrowful gleam came from their eyes. All was bright sunshine in their +lives. What if some poor wanderer was going to be murdered that night? +What if some luckless farmer should have his home burned from around him +or his horded tobacco and corn destroyed? What if some child or its +mother should wail out their sorrowful notes of discomfort and grief +before another day's sun shall have risen? Those things are nothing to +the lonesome little bird, which would continue its silent slumber +through the awful din of fire-fraught flame, or through the loud reports +of many rifles, or the yelling of the infuriated Riders as they rode +hastily through the midnight darkness on to do the terrible deed and +bring suffering to many unsuspecting victims. Those things were nothing +to them; they sang on gleefully. But the harmony of their song soon +died away, for there came through the stillness of the moment the soft +sweet tones of Nora Judson's voice as she wended slowly down the road in +search of old Brindle. Rover flopped his ears and wagged his tail, while +a gladsome whine emanated from his throat.</p> + +<p>Wade, followed closely by Rover, went out to the road to meet Nora. Jack +smiled as he extended his hand; she smiled also, then laughed heartily, +the echo resounding down through the woodland and back to the hills.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to assist me to drive the cow home?" she asked sweetly.</p> + +<p>"Provided you don't get in a hurry," replied Jack.</p> + +<p>She didn't blush as she used to on occasions of this same nature, though +she was a little shy. Her face was as beautiful as a newborn rose, and +her hair was done up like a schoolgirl's is done when she expects to +have company; her skirt was not of the tattered and worn variety that +she wore when old Brindle made her first escape, and her slippers were +tan—those Jack had brought as a present. They fitted her trim foot +nicely. Her ankles were covered with lisle thread hose, not homespun +cotton, like she wore when Wade first saw her. He now stepped to her +side, and together they rounded up old Brindle, and soon had her headed +homeward.</p> + +<p>When Wade looked into Nora's smiling face he knew that he was an ardent +lover, and he fully concluded he would never do one thing to offend her.</p> + +<p>She looked into his face, her own beaming with joy.</p> + +<p>"I'm never in a hurry to leave you, Jack."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Will it always be just so, Nora?"</p> + +<p>"Always—that is, so long as both of us are alive, but——"</p> + +<p>"But what? Don't hesitate, speak out."</p> + +<p>"But times are fearful now. Tom will be out in another day or two, and +then——"</p> + +<p>"And then?" repeated Wade, although he felt it was not necessary for her +to finish the sentence.</p> + +<p>"And then," she continued, "something terrible may happen. Tom fumes all +the time, cursing the luck that threw him so long idle, when he could +have been doing so much. And then," she said again, looking tenderly at +him, "your life is in imminent danger. You should keep a close watch at +all times on Al Thompson. He hates you, and is only waiting for an +opportunity to kill you. Will you keep a close watch, Jack?"</p> + +<p>"I shall keep a close watch. Not that I have any fears of death, or that +Thompson will kill me, but for your sake."</p> + +<p>"For my sake, Jack? For my sake only?"</p> + +<p>"For your sake only. Let me tell you, little girl, I have but one hope +this side of heaven, but one longing. The hope is for you, the longing +is for your happiness. Don't you know that you have transformed my life? +Once I was a raging lion, to-day I am meek and lowly. The only ray of +hope within me was transplanted by your own life. I have studied you +from the beginning of your growth until you began to bud, and on until +you were a full-grown flower; how, then, can I help but be interested in +you? You have torn from my heart most evil designs."</p> + +<p>"Were there ever such designs there, Jack?"</p> + +<p>"Once, yes. None now. I have much to tell you at some more opportune +time; not now."</p> + +<p>"If I may venture to say it, I am very glad to have been an assistance +to you, because you have been as a shining light to my dark pathway from +the first time we met. Dear old Brindle," she said.</p> + +<p>"Dear old Brindle," repeated Wade softly. "And now we have old Brindle +home again, and we must part, though not forever, I hope. Tomorrow, if +all goes well through the night, I should like to take you over to the +brook fishing. Will you go?"</p> + +<p>"We might be endangering our lives to go over there just at this time. +That is Thompson's territory, don't you know?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know; but what's the use to go through life full of fears for +what we might meet? The obstacles which we naturally encounter are so +nearly insurmountable as to discourage us, so therefore let us not look +forward to those which <i>might</i> confront us."</p> + +<p>"I shall admit that the natural ones are many, but caution is what has +been taught me. We should be grateful to God that they are not more +numerous."</p> + +<p>"Will you accompany me, then?"</p> + +<p>"I shall, if all goes well to-night."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + + +<p>There is a certain charm about the hills that will in time take away +from one that feeling of loneliness which always exists in the heart of +one who has not been long about them. This charm turns the rugged hills +into things of rare beauty, the misty valley into a dream, and peace and +contentment finally take hold upon a life that before had been nothing +but sorrow and grief.</p> + +<p>Jack Wade was no longer lonesome in his lonely little cabin in the +foothills, he no longer felt the pangs of that sadness which had +hitherto shot over him to cause him to feel like giving up his plans and +returning to civilization. There were many reasons for this peace and +contentment. The greatest of them was that old Peter Judson and his +entire family had done so much to aid and assist him and to drive away +all loneliness, and for this cause they had endeared themselves to him. +It was now a pleasure to Wade to rise very early in the morning and +glance out through the breaking day toward the Cumberland, and watch the +mountain grow through the dewy mist until she was plain to view. It was +even a pleasure to him to watch her disappear with the departing day.</p> + +<p>So when he bade Nora good-night he went down to his own cabin with a +light heart, still followed by the good brown dog, Rover, which had +taken up with him so firmly that he went home only when Nora blew the +horn. He always obeyed this call, and trotted off gayly, but when the +morning light appeared he was back again lying on Wade's little porch as +comfortably as he desired to be. Wade was very glad of the dog's +friendship, for he helped to dissolve the terrible gloom that sometimes +gathered over him. He took great delight in talking to the dog while he +was preparing his meals, and never forgot to put in an extra allowance +for Rover.</p> + +<p>"Now, Rover," he said, "you like your eggs better raw, perhaps, and no +doubt, if you have been getting them at all, you have had to take them +that way; but this is quite a different hotel, and you shall have to +cultivate a taste for fried eggs, as that is the way I like them best, +and that is certainly the easiest and quickest way to get them +prepared."</p> + +<p>Rover whined and wagged his shaggy tail.</p> + +<p>"In this country, Rover, old boy," continued Wade, "where every fellow +is looking about for someone he can kill, a fellow, if he would eat at +all, must get his lunch the quickest way he can; so you must not be +angry if you must eat fried eggs."</p> + +<p>Rover gave a low bark, seeming to understand fully. He watched the +preparation of the meal with pleasure. When Jack moved to another part +of the room Rover trotted quickly over there, as though he feared some +portion of the work would be lost to him. When Wade stood over the +little stove Rover was there looking longingly up at him.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Wade, "you don't like coffee, Rover, and there is where you +are lucky. You are wise not to drink it. I ought not to drink coffee, +but how could I stand the strain of all that I look for should I not +take some stimulant? I don't drink whisky, Rover—that is wrong for a +fellow to do; I don't chew tobacco nor smoke a pipe, so what? I must +drink coffee. Some men say that man is so constituted that his system +calls for a stimulant; but I don't believe that, Rover, do you? Now here +you are, old friend, a nice slice of good bread made by your dear +mistress, a piece of bacon, and a whole egg fried. My, what a lunch for +an old dog which has not been used to anything but kicks and curses all +his life!"</p> + +<p>Rover barked gleefully while Jack put a tin platter on the floor and +placed the food into it, and they ate in silence.</p> + +<p>After the meal was over Jack went out to sit awhile on his little porch, +while Rover dropped down at his feet. They had not been comfortably +seated very long when Rover rose to a sitting position and looked in the +direction of his home. Wade knew from his anxious look that he had heard +something. In another second the long, loud blast from Nora's horn came +trembling through the night air and reached their ears.</p> + +<p>"What's that for, old dog?" Jack spoke to Rover. Then the sound came +again, and Rover bolted off without further ceremony.</p> + +<p>Wade arose and stood for a moment listening. It was peculiar that the +dog should be called at night unless he was badly needed. As he +listened, Wade heard two distinct rifle shots coming from the direction +of Peter Judson's home. "Something up," he said, gathering his own rifle +and starting out, meaning to go up and learn what the trouble could be. +Instead of taking the road, Wade went out through his own pasture and +through Judson's field. The old man had taught him caution, and he knew +how to use it. He went on as hurriedly as possible until he reached +Judson's horse-lot, then he began to peer about. He could see Peter +moving about in front of the light at the house, but nothing strange +appeared to be taking place. Then he saw old Peter come to the door and +look eagerly toward the road.</p> + +<p>"What's the trouble?" asked Wade, from behind.</p> + +<p>"I thought that'd bring ye, Jack," said Peter, turning quickly, "and ye +fooled me, too. Ye air gittin' 'long all right, now, boy. Well, they's +a-goin' ter be so much fun ter-night that hit jest looked like I +couldn't help axin' ye fer ther fust time ter jine us. Ye see, Tom +a-bein' a little sore, hit'll make ther road seem a little lonely to me, +an' ef ye want ter see ther fun ye kin take Tom's big black an' come +'long with me. Have yer got yer little shootin' irons 'long?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing save my rifle," said Jack wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Well, ye kin use Tom's, an' they air as good as ye kin find in this +kintry. Ye hain't a-feered, air ye?"</p> + +<p>"I fear nothing," said Wade; "but I'd like to know what's up. I don't +want to run into anything that won't be good for me."</p> + +<p>"Go with him, Jack," said Nora. "You'll see the fun, sure."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Peter. "Ther hosses air ready, an' I'll tell ye all 'bout it +while we go 'long. We have ter travel nearly to the Tennessee line afore +midnight, so les' hurry."</p> + +<p>Wade buckled the pistols on, mounted the prancing horse, and started out +somewhat dubious as to the fate of himself. He had learned to trust old +Peter fully, however, and there could possibly be nothing to fear from +him. Beside, Nora had told him to go along, and there could absolutely +be nothing harmful to him in going.</p> + +<p>"Ye see, Jack," explained Peter as they rode rapidly toward the big +mountain, "I told ye t'other day 'bout them durn scamps what'd jine ther +association an' then do all they could ter throw it down. Them's ther +biggest scoundrels what we have ter deal against. They're the snakes in +the grass, an' we don't ever know jest whar they air at. We cain't put +our fingers on 'em when we want 'em, but ever now an' agin' somebody +runs agin' 'em, an' that's what's up ter-night. We air a-goin' ter flog +one o' them fellers now. Ye see that dark-lookin' spot up ther road? +Well, them is 'bout fifteen horsemen. Now git that cap out'n Tom's +saddle-bags an' draw hit down over yer head,—hit'll fit yer,—an' don't +say 'nuther word from now till I ax yer to. When we git yonder that +black bunch'll move out an' nobody'll say anything. Jest keep a-goin', +an' ef ye git lost from me, say nothin', but keep a-goin', and I'll find +ye. I won't have ter show ye any more after ter-night, I 'low. Now keep +quiet."</p> + +<p>Old Peter almost whispered the last sentence. Jack Wade understood and +kept quiet, as he had been instructed. When they rode into the black +mass one wild yell from those strong-lunged farmers rent the air, and +everybody for miles around knew that some farmer somewhere was nearing +the danger line. The swift ride through the cool night air was +exhilarating, and the excitement, being entirely new to Wade, was just +to his liking. He had been unconsciously drawn into a midnight raid with +those hated Nightriders. When it dawned upon his mind that he was +actually taking part in a great midnight raid, and would soon witness +cruel treatment from the hands of those he was aiding and abetting, a +cold chill ran over his frame. Still, the punishment was going to be +meted out to one who, in an extreme moment, was about to do a thing +which would affect every man, woman, and child in the whole country. He +would sell his tobacco for a price which would not permit a living, and +he must stop or suffer the consequence.</p> + +<p>They rode until it seemed to Wade that the foaming horses must drop from +sheer exhaustion. That was impossible. They were used to such trips, and +could no doubt keep up the pace for many hours. Supreme quiet reigned. +There was no sound save that made by the clatter of many horses' feet +striking the soft dirt. When they passed some quiet farmhouse, where all +was silent within, a dog would bay loudly or set up a terrifying howl, +which could be heard until they were far beyond.</p> + +<p>The moments soon turned into hours. Finally they drew rein in front of a +large farmhouse. Jack thought, as he looked at it through those +peep-holes in his cap, that he had not seen such a large and handsome +place since he arrived in the country. Barns and out-houses were +plentiful, trees and shrubbery were plentiful. This was the home of a +more wealthy farmer. They were now awaiting a signal from the leader, +when every pistol should be fired into the air to intimidate the +sleeping victim within.</p> + +<p>Someone spoke. "When I fire," he said, "then you can all fire; but no +man must fire mor'n once."</p> + +<p>The dog in the back yard had now made the discovery that someone was +about to intrude upon his master's domain and, faithful dog that he was, +he dashed out to face the enemy alone. When he reached the front, +yelping and baying, the signal gun was fired. The bullet struck the dog +squarely in the forehead, and with a short yelp he fell dead. Almost +simultaneously other pistols were fired, yet not so simultaneously as +not to be discerned separately. The Riders, who knew their business so +well, quickly separated and surrounded the house. From within came the +victim, who, when he heard the shooting, suspected immediately that +danger lurked near, and darted out of the house intending to make his +escape by the back way.</p> + +<p>He was caught by the strong hands of two farmers, who lead him out to +where their horses stood, followed by others. No one spoke a word. The +spectacle was new to Wade, who followed on in silence. The victim was +lead out to a strip of woodland, where he was stripped of every stitch +of clothing, bent over a fallen tree trunk and—it is too horrible a +tale to tell. The vividness of it will stand forever in the minds of the +few. No, he was not murdered, but worse. The great leather straps with +holes in them were far worse than bullets from a forty-four gun. Mr. +Openraiser begged for mercy like a child. He promised that his tobacco +would not be sold, and he would be a good obedient member in the future. +It was afterward learned that he kept his promise.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + + +<p>Some one laid his hand gently on Wade's shoulder. "Come on quick, now," +he whispered softly, "don't make any noise."</p> + +<p>It was Judson. Wade followed on silently. No sound broke the stillness +of the early morning, save the clatter of the horses' feet. Far to the +left of them the clatter was dying out; to the right of them the noise +was growing fainter; no sound came from old Peter Judson. The only +immediate sound was that made by their rifles as they clanked against +the brass parts of their saddles. The twinkling stars shone on, +undisturbed by anything that had happened. Those two Nightriders, Judson +and Wade, rode on for several miles without the exchange of words. +Finally Peter, concluding that there was no danger, jerked the cap from +his head and stuffed it into his saddle pocket.</p> + +<p>"Take off yer head-gear," he said to Wade, who complied gladly.</p> + +<p>"It's pretty warm under this thing," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Not so warm as hit was under them straps, is it?"</p> + +<p>Wade made no reply.</p> + +<p>"Ye don't like that much," said Peter, smiling, "Well, ye air not ter +blame, but ye'll see ther point afore ye air many days older. Now, I +want to tell ye somethin'. They was four o' them Thompsons' thar, an' +we've gotter look out, 'cause they're shore to head us off. We air not +travelin' ther same road as we come down when we went to ther spankin'. +Think yer kin take on a little shootin' fun ter-night, Wade?"</p> + +<p>While Peter spoke he was glancing sharply about them. He was accustomed +to the ways of those old mountaineers, and felt quite certain that +trouble was lurking near. His experience in feuds had taught him about +what to expect, and he would not likely be caught unawares.</p> + +<p>"Ef ye kin," he continued, "unhook yer gun, fer they's a-goin' ter be +somethin' doin' soon."</p> + +<p>The words had hardly passed from his lips when there sang over their +heads the "zing" of a rifle bullet.</p> + +<p>"Thar ye air," shouted Peter. "We mout a-looked for that shore. Git +ready, now, an' when ye see a black spot down ther road let 'em have it +good an' straight."</p> + +<p>"<i>Bling</i>!" Another bullet passed harmlessly near. "<i>Bling!</i>" one was +sent back.</p> + +<p>"Move up a little, Jack," said Peter, tapping his horse. "I'm not +a-feered,—don't want ye ter think that,—but they be too many fer us to +stop an' argify with."—"<i>Bling!</i>" "<i>Blang!</i>"—"Give 'em thunder, boy. +Thar they air!"—"<i>Bling!</i>"—"Git to t'other side o' ther road, +Jack"—"Blang!"—"we air too close together, so's they cain't hit us so +easy."—"<i>Blang!</i>" "<i>Blang!</i>"—"Keep it a-goin', boy, ye'll git used ter +ther ways o' the mountain yet"—"<i>Blang!</i>"—"Ther durn fool!" ejaculated +Peter, grunting loudly.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Wade.</p> + +<p>"The tip end o' one o' my fingers is gone clear as a whistle, that's +what ther matter is, boy. Give it to 'em, now,—thar they air, but they +hain't a-coming so fast. Think we must hit somebody that time. What air +they now? I don't see 'em anymore."</p> + +<p>"Neither do I. They have given up, Peter, as sure as you live; they've +quit the fight. Somebody got a bullet."</p> + +<p>"Don't be too shore, boy; they must be foolin' us and' goin' 'round to +head us off. I've been through mor'n a dozen sich fights as this,—got +two bullet holes in one leg at ther same scrap,—but they hain't got old +Peter yet. I guess it's all over for this time, Wade. Follow me now, +quick. I'm goin' ter give 'em the slip. We'll go clean 'round that hill +yonder, an' they won't know whatever become of us, ef they do try to +out-trick us."</p> + +<p>After skirting the hill in silence, old Peter began again: "That was one +good short fight, boy, an' I declare ye air a putty good stayer. Ye kin +pull ther trigger 'bout as fast as any Kentuckian as ever fit with me, +lessen hit was Rube Willers. I remember one time years ago when I was +on t'other side o' ther mountain, when Bill Tulliver's outfit was agin +me an' Rube Willers. 'Course we had friends, an' so did they, but Rube +could outshoot any feller what ever come into the mountains, an' I seed +him put 'bout five holes through Bill Tulliver afore he hit ther ground. +But Bill come near a-gittin' him, shore; he put a hole in Rube's +shoulder, an' ef hit'd 'a' been one inch t'other way Rube'd never 'a' +had time ter git anybody after that, he'd never 'a' had time to a-told +what struck him. These old mountaineers know how to use ther +shootin'-irons, that's shore. But I forgot to ax ye ef ye got hit, did +ye?"</p> + +<p>"No, I'm safe this time."</p> + +<p>"Ye talk like ye mout git a ball some other time, an' ye had better look +sharp all the time now. Al Thompson is a lion, but we made him git +ter-night, I believe. Don't ye think we've slipped them?"</p> + +<p>Jack did.</p> + +<p>The gray streaks of dawn were appearing in the eastern horizon and there +would likely be no more fighting. Judson and Wade were not far from home +now. Being tired and sore, they rode on in silence. Jack Wade was no +coward, a coward would never have undertaken the heavy task which he +had, but he also was not fond of fighting. Had he lived in the mountains +all his life he would have enjoyed the sport, but he had not, there was +not so much sport in it for him as there was for old Peter Judson, who +knew nothing else.</p> + +<p>The trouble between the Judson and Thompson factions could be dated back +to the early days, when one Alex Judson, a very young man, shot to death +one Bill Allen, a kinsman of the Thompsons, on the streets of the little +village. Alex Judson flew to the mountains, and there arose two factions +out of the killing. From time to time a Thompson or a Judson was picked +off his saddle as he rode over the mountain in the dead of night, but +after the death of Alex Judson the trouble had been patched up, and for +years had lain still, but only sleeping, not dead. The history began +before the present generation came into being, and old Peter's act in +clipping Al Thompson's trigger finger off had opened the wound anew, the +old sore bled, and the end of the trouble was not yet.</p> + +<p>All this and more Peter told Wade as they rode on toward home, finally +pulling up at Wade's cabin.</p> + +<p>"An' now, Wade," said Peter, "ye air a Judson, an' ye can't expect +anything but death. Somebody's a-goin' ter git killed afore this thing +is over. Hit may be me, hit may be you, hit may be Jim Thompson or his +son Al, an' hit may be Tom. Nobody knows who it will be till he's done +fer."</p> + +<p>"I shall be satisfied," replied Wade.</p> + +<p>Jack watched the old man out of sorrowful eyes as he rode up the hill +leading Tom's horse behind him.</p> + +<p>"The old fellow has had much trouble," he thought, "but he seems to +enjoy the sport of a feudal fight." Wade attended to his own stock and +then lay down for a few hours of rest. The strenuous night had been too +much for his nerves, but there was much other trouble before him of +which he little dreamed as he lay across his bed to rest. He was not +long in falling fast asleep, and it was near noon by the sun when he was +awakened by the low whine of Rover standing at the door. Wade rose and +shook himself much after the fashion of a dog coming out of the water. +His head felt heavy, his brain dull. The events of the night before were +trying to fix themselves in his memory, but he could not shape them. He +had faint recollection of all he had gone through from the time of +hearing the dog-horn, the two successive rifle shots, his hasty rush +through the fields to Judson's, and then, ah, then, of his acceptance of +the invitation to go out into the darkness of the night to watch the fun +of flogging a farmer. It all passed hazily through his sleep-clogged +brain. He could now see it all just as it happened, the firing of +rifles, his own hasty retreat, the running conversation of old Peter +Judson, as he encouraged him to keep up a continuous fire on the dark +spots in the road behind them; then Peter's exclamation that the end of +his finger had been shot away by the murderous marksmen, the escape, and +finally the return to his own cabin.</p> + +<p>He could not keep these events out of his memory, they were there as +dark spots and would remain so forever. Reaching for his coat, he made +the discovery that he had narrowly escaped death, for there, a half-inch +from the second button from the top, was the tell-tale hole made by a +Winchester bullet. He could remember now just when the bullet which had +nearly taken his life flew by him. He had heard the "zing!" and the +"swish!" but had not suspected that it came so close to boring a hole +through his heart. A cold shudder ran over him as he thought of the +close proximity to death. Ah, well, that was life in the mountains, that +was the fulfillment of the "call of the wilds," and he must not now +complain. Wade seemed stupefied. All the while he dreamed the good old +brown dog looked longingly up into his careworn face, as if to say, +"What's the matter, master?" But there was no reply.</p> + +<p>Rover whisked about him from one side to the other, in a vain effort to +attract him, but the result was the same, the mystic stupefaction was on +him, and he cared not for the dog just then. Of a sudden Rover ran out +of the door, baying furiously. Wade looked out and discovered the reason +for Rover's action. From toward the city came three men on horseback, +riding leisurely. Wade watched them closely as they came on. They were +strangers so far as he could tell from the distance that separated them. +When they were just opposite the cabin they halted, Wade still watching +them. Their actions now seemed a little strange, for one rode around the +other two and stood near the gate. Rover was tearing up the earth in his +anxiety to get at them. The man near the gate cried out loudly, and +Wade, unconscious of lurking danger, went out in answer to the call, +unarmed. He had not seen the necessity of arming himself to meet three +strangers in bright noonday. The other two lined up near the fence, and +when Wade approached, commanding Rover to be quiet, the three men +covered him with revolvers. "Hands straight up," said one.</p> + +<p>Wade obeyed the command. "What outrage is this?" he asked warmly.</p> + +<p>"No outrage at all, friend," said the captain. "It means that we have +come to arrest you, and if you make any fuss about it you might be +seriously hurt."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand," said Wade.</p> + +<p>"You will soon enough. You are under arrest in connection with the death +of one Lem Franklin, who passed in his checks last night with his boots +on."</p> + +<p>"What proof have you that I know anything of the death of this +Franklin?" asked Wade.</p> + +<p>"Sufficient to convict you of murder, sir," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"I don't know this Franklin at all."</p> + +<p>"Likely enough you don't, but the proof of your guilt is sufficient to +warrant the arrest."</p> + +<p>It was beginning to dawn upon Wade's bewildered mind that he and Judson +had dropped one of the enemy during the running fight of the night +before. He could see it plainly now, but he knew it would not do to +submit willingly and meekly to an arrest which would deprive him of his +liberty for a long time.</p> + +<p>"I am not armed at all, as you can see," he said, "and I believe it will +look better if you gentlemen will lower your revolvers. I will feel more +free then to talk with you. You have a serious advantage."</p> + +<p>"And we intend to hold it, too," said the captain. "A fellow must get +an advantage and keep it in this country. Make ready now, and come on."</p> + +<p>Wade looked fire. "I shall not submit," he said hotly.</p> + +<p>"Then if you will not, we must force you, and I warn you that one move +contrary on your part will cause your immediate death."</p> + +<p>"You are a bluffer," said Wade, "and a coward." Jack had now recognized +this man.</p> + +<p>The latter raised his revolver until it pointed directly at Wade's head. +"You think it a bluff, do you, and that I won't shoot?"</p> + +<p>"You won't do any thing fair, that's certain," exclaimed Wade.</p> + +<p>The assistant officers kept very quiet, not offering any way out of the +difficulty. The captain got off his horse and stepped toward Wade. "I'll +blow your brains out," he said, angrily, "if you don't come out at +once."</p> + +<p>"You did blow one man's life out recently," said Wade sneeringly, "and I +do not doubt but that you would blow my life out, if you were in the +dark where two other gentlemen could not look upon the deed."</p> + +<p>The peculiar manner in which Wade remarked this caused the two to look +one at the other, and the captain turned pale, staggered toward his +horse, and replied more cautiously: "I don't understand you, but there +is no use to argue the case. You must submit to an arrest, and that as +quickly as possible."</p> + +<p>Wade knew that his remarks had made a telling blow, and that he now had +an equal advantage.</p> + +<p>"I will not submit," he replied coolly, "and if you do not leave without +further request I shall have this entire country on to you in less time +than an hour—even before you could get three miles down the road." +Turning to Rover, Wade said, "Go home, quick, and give the alarm." The +good old, well-trained dog, seeming to understand, galloped off in the +direction indicated by Wade's pointing finger, while the officers looked +after him anxiously. The mark had been struck, however, and the +officers, thinking it a good time to depart, said, "We'll get you a +little later, old boy." With this they galloped off toward Guthrie.</p> + +<p>The man whom Wade had defied was no other than the assistant officer who +accompanied the warehouse man out that fateful night when Fred Conover +was so wantonly murdered. Wade had recognized him, and used the +knowledge to his own good, and to save himself from the jail at that +time.</p> + +<p>Thoughtfully Wade made his way slowly up the road toward Judson's home, +where he told of what had just happened.</p> + +<p>"That," said Peter, "is the work of Al Thompson, shore. He's to the back +of it. Seein' as how he couldn't fetch us fair and square with a bullet, +he's made up his mind ter git us any way he kin. Apt's not, ef ther +truth was known, he shot Franklin in ther back hisself, so's ter say we +done it. Hit looks kinder like he was after you specially, Wade, cause +he hain't got no right ter know that ye were out last night unless he +seed ye or heerd ye a-talkin', or seed Tom's hoss, one t'other. Ef he +didn't, he's a-playin' a sneakin' game, that's what. Well, I see I +cain't git 'bout, fer awhile, on account o' this hyar finger bein' a +little sore, an' Tom, he's walkin' 'bout a little now, an' you an' +him'll hafter kinder keep things a-goin'—keep 'em warm till I git so I +kin shoot agin. Ye needn't be afeerd o' them officers a-comin' back +agin. They won't do that. Only 'cause ye air putty nigh a stranger hyar +that they ever tackled ye 'tall. Thay won't tackle a feller what knows, +that's shore. They're skeered o' their shadders, that's what they air."</p> + +<p>Old Peter quit talking long enough to put out a plug of tobacco as large +as his fist to be replaced with another equally as large, and continued:</p> + +<p>"Now, Wade, ye've got ther best of one man anyway, an' I reckon ye +better keep ther knife thar a little while. Hit'll do us all good some +time, an I reckon ye better not go a-fishin' ter-day, 'cause Al +Thompson'll turn ther mountain over ter do us up. I seed Frank Buckalew +ter-day, an' told him how things was a-goin', an' he said he'd fix +things warm over t'other side, an' he'll do it, too. He's my cousin, an' +as good a fighter as ever carried a gun over ther mountain, I seed him +kill a feller onct after the other feller had him kivered. Hit was done +so quick he never know'd what struck him."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + + +<p>Late August and seasoning. Many of the farmers who had raised tobacco at +all had it stored in their barns, some intending to sell openly, and +others to throw into the pool. The great association knew what was going +on from the top of the mountain to the cities below. "The Wolf, +Night-Watch," had been very busy from the beginning of the burning +season through the turning, resetting, and gathering. He knew just how +much tobacco each farmer had raised, where it was stored, when and to +whom he expected to sell it, and what he expected to realize on the +sale. He knew how much tobacco Jack Wade had stored in his barns down on +the Redmond farm, and he also knew that Wade was in thorough sympathy +with the association, which was making strenuous efforts to raise the +price of tobacco to a point where living expenses could be met.</p> + +<p>Every farmer knew Wade now, and looked upon him as a strong friend and a +powerful help in the community. His popularity had grown to such an +extent that he was recognized as a leader, and his counsel was eagerly +and continuously sought. He had made such a thorough study of the +situation that he was familiar with all points. His great genius was +highly esteemed, his knowledge of tobacco and the manner of raising it +brought many of the older raisers to converse with him, and he freely +talked with everyone, giving his idea in full. The result of his study +was that more tobacco and a much higher grade was being raised on less +ground than the old heads thought it possible to raise at all.</p> + +<p>When the purchasers from Hopkinsville came, Wade searched them +thoroughly with his keen eye. He knew they had intended to put the price +down low, and he was going to meet them in a manner that they little +dreamed of.</p> + +<p>"Yours is the finest tobacco I have seen," said one.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," replied Wade carelessly. "Have you purchased much yet?"</p> + +<p>"Only one barn. I'll offer you three and one-half cents at once for +yours."</p> + +<p>Wade just stared at the speaker.</p> + +<p>"I'll make it four cents," said the other.</p> + +<p>Wade turned upon him sharply.</p> + +<p>"Do you expect to buy much tobacco at that price?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We expect to purchase every pound of tobacco in this country at less +than five cents," said one.</p> + +<p>In Wade's mind there was a set determination, born on the moment, that +they should not purchase one pound of tobacco for less than ten cents, +and perhaps more.</p> + +<p>"You are buying for the trusts?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No," said the other, half angrily, "we are <i>not</i> buying for the trusts. +I am buying for a private company, and have no connection with this +gentleman, although we are together. If his judgment leads him to +believe that the tobacco is worth more than my judgment leads me to +believe it to be worth, naturally he offers a better price, that's all. +Now, as I said, you have about the highest quality tobacco I have seen +this season, therefore I shall raise this gentleman's offer and make it +four cents and the half. Shall you let it go at that?"</p> + +<p>"I shall not."</p> + +<p>"Then you may keep it stored until it rots."</p> + +<p>"Hold!" said the second man. "My last offer is six cents. Shall you let +it go?"</p> + +<p>"I shall <i>not</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Then keep it in your barns until it rots; you'll not get more than we +have offered you."</p> + +<p>"I'll allow it to rot then," said Wade defiantly.</p> + +<p>The two men rode off toward Judson's. Wade meant to fulfill his +determination, if it should cost him many thousands of dollars. Hastily +saddling his horse he also rode up to Judson's, where he found the two +tobacco purchasers parleying with old Peter.</p> + +<p>"No," Peter was saying, "I hain't got much terbacker this season, but ye +cain't git what little I've got fer no three and a half cents."</p> + +<p>Jack touched the old man on the shoulder. "Remember, Judson," he +whispered, "I'll make it one cent heavier than they offer." Then he +rode in search of Tom, whom he instructed to go over the country as fast +as he could and advise the faithful ones to hold their tobacco for +twelve cents. "Tell them," he said, "that they have a standing offer of +eleven and one-half from me, and they should hold out for twelve from +anyone else. Make it plain to them that the offer is made in good faith, +and the man who fails to sell in good season for twelve cents shall +receive eleven and one-half. You had not better go into Thompson's +territory."</p> + +<p>"I'll go thar too," said Tom, "an' I'll even go to old Jim Thompson's +house. He can't hurt anybody yet, an' Al's off on a trip right now, so +they's nuthin' to be skeered of."</p> + +<p>"I won't make the offer to Thompson at this time, Tom; it would be no +use. He'd rather sell for one cent than accept assistance from us."</p> + +<p>"All right, I hain't a-keerin' much 'bout foolin' 'round thar, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Be off, then!"</p> + +<p>The two men were still parleying with Peter, in an effort to purchase +his tobacco, but he was holding very high above them.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, "I'll not take seven nor eight."</p> + +<p>"My last offer is nine," said one.</p> + +<p>"But I'm offered ten."</p> + +<p>"I'll take what you have for ten," said the second.</p> + +<p>"I'm offered eleven," said Peter, smiling.</p> + +<p>The two purchasers turned in disgust and went their way, considerably +discouraged at the outcome of their trip. It was the same everywhere. +"I'm offered one cent more," was all they could hear. They were unable +to make out as to who had got in ahead of them to offer more, and they +could not reconcile this condition with Wade's whispered conversation +with Peter Judson. Every place they visited they received the same +reply, so they turned back to Hopkinsville with dejected countenances. +When they had departed from Judson's, the old man turned to Wade and +said, "Boy, what do you mean, anyway? Do ye expect ter fight ther great +trusts?" Peter smiled.</p> + +<p>"For this season I do. There is only one way to win a battle, and that +way is to fight. Can't you see the result already? We shall get twelve +cents for our tobacco, where you have been getting only six. If it works +out all right, I'll offer more next season, and Nightriding will be +forever done away with and peace will reign among the farmers of this +rich country. Do you see it all?"</p> + +<p>Peter did see it, and was very enthusiastic.</p> + +<p>"Ye air a brick, Jack," he said. "I always knowed that ye had a great +head an' was sent into this kintry to save ther poor devils who +couldn't save themselves, 'cause hit'll work, an' they'll be back fer +the terbacker at twelve cents afore long, shore. They got ter git this +terbacker or go busted an' quit. Tom'll not quit ridin' till he's told +every farmer plum to t'other side o' ther hill an' back. Whoop, let 'er +go, we'll down 'em yet!"</p> + +<p>Old Peter threw his hat high into the air and jumped like a boy, so +enthusiastic did he become.</p> + +<p>"Ye'll make yerself more popular than ye air already, Jack, ef ye don't +watch out a little."</p> + +<p>Wade knew his own power better than any other person. He merely smiled +at the old man's great enthusiasm, then turned to Nora, who had stood +listening to everything, feeling a higher admiration for Jack Wade.</p> + +<p>"We'll take that trip to the brook to-day, if you like," he said. "The +day is so calm and the air so invigorating, it will do us good."</p> + +<p>"I shall be pleased," she said. "Shall we go at once?"</p> + +<p>"If it won't interfere with your duties at home."</p> + +<p>"Nuthin' ter hinder," said Mrs. Judson; "she kin go when she wants."</p> + +<p>The little wild flowers that earlier in the year were so bright and +happy were now a little drooped, having gone through the warm summer +with but little water; however, they still nodded approvingly as the two +passed astride the gentle steeds.</p> + +<p>"When we were here last," said Wade, "the spring was just appearing and +everything was so beautifully green."</p> + +<p>"The summer sun has been too much for the foliage and flowers," replied +Nora.</p> + +<p>"That is only to remind us of what humanity must pass through," said +Jack. "The bloom of youth is upon us, we are now in the springtime of +our lives, fresh and gay; but the great hot summer of time must pass +over our heads to wither us as the summer sun has withered and drooped +the sweet little flowers. The cold winters of time must pass over us to +silver the golden curls and gray the hair as the summer sun has given a +golden tint to those once green leaves yonder."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jack, must it be so?"</p> + +<p>"Do not look so sorrowful over it, child. Life is life, and must be +lived out in accordance with the will of the Almighty, maker of heaven +and earth. See how beautiful the golden-tinted leaves appear in the last +hours of their lives. They have done their duty, and the reward is +theirs; they toil no more, but man, who is born of woman, is of few days +and full of sorrow."</p> + +<p>"While it seems that all is night to the poor woman whom God has seen +fit to place here as a helpmeet to man."</p> + +<p>"You are looking through the darkness to-day, Nora."</p> + +<p>"There seems no light, Jack."</p> + +<p>"Yet it will break in on you, my child, when you are least expecting +it."</p> + +<p>"Then there will be other things to worry over."</p> + +<p>"My little fairy," said Wade, "you were not born to worry. Cease. It +makes you thin; you must not worry any more."</p> + +<p>"How can I help it, Jack? I must worry while conditions are as they now +are in the valley. I fear lest Dad shall be killed, I fear lest Tom +shall be picked from his saddle, and I—I even fear lest you might not +be with us long. You must know that you have been a great salvation to +this country, in one sense, and in another——"</p> + +<p>"What! you hesitate?"</p> + +<p>"If you should die," said Nora slowly, "why, life would not be worth +much to some."</p> + +<p>"And to you, Nora?"</p> + +<p>"Without you all would be dark."</p> + +<p>"Nora!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Jack. You are the only person who ever awakened within my soul a +sensation akin to joy. Your big heart has won my esteem, and—and——"</p> + +<p>Nora hung her head shyly, as she told what had been in her heart for +some time.</p> + +<p>"Your love is not in vain," said Wade.</p> + +<p>They had now reached the brook, and were dismounting.</p> + +<p>"Let us seal our love right here, under this tree," said Wade, and he +impressed a kiss upon her sweet forehead. A quiet flush covered her +face, and she was very happy.</p> + +<p>The spot they selected was a lovely one 'neath a small bush, where they +would be completely hid from the view of an idle passer. They were in +Thompson's territory, and, though Tom Judson had thought Al was away, it +was not true. This had been a ruse on the part of the wily Al in order +to catch a Judson napping. Wade did not know of a certainty that Al was +not gone, but he was cautious, nevertheless. His rifle was ever near +him. Now, they had not been long secure until they saw Al meandering +down the stream on the opposite side from them. Wade watched him until +he was directly opposite them, then whispered to Nora to keep well hid. +Leveling his rifle at Al, he commanded him to halt. Nora's heart beat +fast in her bosom. Al, recognizing Wade's voice, looked sharply around, +sending his right hand to his pistol pocket. Too late.</p> + +<p>"Take it off," said Wade, "or I may be tempted to blow out your life."</p> + +<p>Wade spoke in the rough language of the mountaineer. Times were such +that a fellow must necessarily blow a fellow's brains out or get his own +scattered over the earth. Thompson caught sight of Wade in his +hiding-place and, seeing that he was looking into the barrel of Wade's +rifle, took his hand from his pocket and raised it, with the other, high +above his head.</p> + +<p>"Ye've got me shore, this time," said Al. "What ye goin' ter do with +me?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to kill you," replied Wade. "Turn your back to me, and be +quick about it."</p> + +<p>"What! ye hain't a goin' ter shoot me in ther back, air ye?" asked +Thompson, turning to fulfill the command.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't you shoot me in the back, or any other part of the body, had +you the opportunity?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't."</p> + +<p>"You haven't had the opportunity."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have."</p> + +<p>"When?"</p> + +<p>"Ther night I borried yer hoss. Ye didn't know me then, Wade, but hit +was me, shore. I lost my hoss an' just had ter have 'nuther—had so much +ter do afore morning', an' I took yours for only a little while, 'cause +I knowed you wouldn't have as much ter do as me."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not kill me, Thompson, while you had the chance?"</p> + +<p>"Because ye didn't kill me when ye had the chance, that's why."</p> + +<p>Wade crossed the stream, going directly through the water, took Al's +pistols from his pockets and laid them on the ground a safe distance +away. Stepping back a pace, he commanded Thompson to turn and face him.</p> + +<p>"So you did not kill me that night because I had not killed you at a +time when I had an advantage?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly. Do ye think one of us fellers could be unfair? Not so; we +treat everybody square. That time made us even, but I said I'd kill ye +ef ye was caught that away again."</p> + +<p>"In that case, Thompson, I have a perfect right to let you have a load," +said Wade, drawing a bead on the latter's head. "First, however, I want +to know why you hate me so, why do you wish to kill me at all?"</p> + +<p>"That ought'n ter make any difference ter you."</p> + +<p>"It does, and your life just now depends upon your answer to the +question. I've got you dead to rights, and you may as well know that I +do not intend you shall live another moment if your motives against me +are not true. Now answer how you will."</p> + +<p>"In ther first place," said Thompson coolly, "ye air playin' false with +ther gal I love. Ye don't intend ter marry her. Ye've already said in +yer own mind that she's not good enough fer you, an' ye air foolin' with +her heart an' a-killin' her, an' she's weaned away from me, so it's made +me sick, an' I said I'd kill ye fer it. Then ye got ther best of me, an' +didn't, an' I got ther best of you, an' I didn't. Now, ye have me, an' I +reckon ye oughter do it, though, I——"</p> + +<p>"You are lying," interrupted Wade. "You are lying through and through, +and you know it. You are a coward, Thompson, through and through, and +you feel it, so I'm going to shoot you through the top of your head +right now to end your earthly fears and settle the matter once and +forever."</p> + +<p>There was a terrible gleam in Wade's eyes, Thompson saw it, and his +flesh quivered. He saw Wade raise his rifle barrel until it was level +with his breast, up it came until it was level with his head. There came +over him an impulse to break and run for his life, but his horror of +being shot in the back kept him from doing so. The sensation within him +at that moment was terrible. Suddenly, being thoroughly overcome with +fright, he threw both hands high into the air and cried out for mercy.</p> + +<p>"For God's sake," he exclaimed, "don't kill me this way!"</p> + +<p>"I knew you were a coward," said Wade. "I didn't ask you for mercy when +you would have driven your knife through me, but I am going to hear your +cry and let you go. One thing I want to know, however, and I must have +the absolute truth. Didn't you come down this way looking for me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And intended killing me?"</p> + +<p>"I did."</p> + +<p>"What object had you in telling the officers that I killed Franklin?"</p> + +<p>"I wanted to fix ye then."</p> + +<p>"Did you not shoot Franklin yourself?"</p> + +<p>"No, no. I didn't! Hit was a bullet from your gun, or old man Judson's. +No, Wade, I did not do that. I hain't that mean, ef they do say I am."</p> + +<p>"How did you know I was out with the Riders?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know ye was there. I took a long shot ter fix ye, that's all."</p> + +<p>"All right, now, here are your pistols. Take them and get as fast as you +can. Don't try to use them now, but when you get the drop on me again +you had better pull the trigger."</p> + +<p>Wade watched Thompson as he made his departure. When he had put +considerable distance between them Al fired both his pistols in the air +and gave one of his old-time Comanche yells that vibrated through the +woodland.</p> + +<p>"I'll git ye yet," he cried back. "Ye hain't, got away from me, an' +what's more, ye hain't a-goin' ter."</p> + +<p>Wade drifted back across the stream to where he had left Nora, and found +her shaking from fright.</p> + +<p>"You didn't take these matters so seriously when I first came into this +country," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Nora, "for then I did not think as I do now. I really +believed you were about to commit murder. Oh, Jack, how happy you have +made me, by withholding your hand."</p> + +<p>"Once you said it would be better for me to kill Thompson at sight. Did +you not?"</p> + +<p>"I did not, Jack. That is what father told you."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, Nora, you are quite right. Time has blurred my memory."</p> + +<p>"I am so glad, Jack, that you are such a fearless man. A coward would +have taken the advantage you had and would have slain Al."</p> + +<p>"Thank you."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + + +<p>The little cabin at the foot of the mountain was enshrouded in gloom, +would soon be engulfed by the dark shadows of night. In the cabin window +a candle light, wafted by the soft twilight breeze, flickered and +sputtered, but burned on in obedience to the will of the powers that be. +In a bed in one corner of the room lay Nora, that sweet girl of the +wilds, a pallor spread over her face.</p> + +<p>The light in the window was flickering just as her own life had been +flickering and smoldering, but it did not go out. She was still alive, +and the crucial point had been passed. Now she lay, the Diana of the +hills, as beautiful as the Diana of old. Outside 'neath the large +spreading tree the chickens were strutting, craning their necks, bobbing +their heads up and down, looking upward preparatory to a flight to the +limbs above them. On the rickety little porch old Rover was lying, head +cast down between his front forepaws, with a sorrowful expression upon +his dog face. The mistress had been ill for some time, and his +master—Wade—had not paid the least attention to him, always appearing +as though he preferred being alone; so the old dog, feeling the many +slights, went about with a cast-down countenance.</p> + +<p>Earlier in the day Wade had passed going toward the mountain in search +of game. Later on he was blazing his way, with the barrel of his rifle, +through the thick underbrush down the mountain side. He had got into +entire new territory, and sometimes it became necessary for him to crawl +through, so thick was the brush. Other times he merely pushed aside the +low-hanging limbs with his gun, finally emerging from the thicket into +the open space. When space would allow he straightened himself out, +then his back ached and his hands and knees were very sore. Suddenly he +caught the sound of a disturbed rabbit as it flitted out from its snug +nest beneath the shrub. Jack looked quickly in that direction, in time +to see it crossing the ravine too far away to shoot. As he walked on +there came to his listening ears the shrill whistle of a mountain quail +as it sang out its note of warning to its hidden mate near. Wade started +off in the direction whence the call of the quail came, but after +walking some distance gave up the search and stood still. A dead silence +prevailed. Before him was the clear running stream, behind him a wild +waste of mountain. Down to the stream's edge he walked, and sat down to +rest his tired, weary, sore limbs. The sun was now setting behind the +western hills, the soft gentle twilight was drooping over the mountain +and valley; still Wade sat, dangling his feet over a precipice, gazing +down through the gathering mist into the gleaming waters below, watching +them as they went dancing gleefully over the rocks, sending their +sparkling, silvery spray high into the air, falling again like silver +bubbles. When the dark shadows swooped down and the day was no more, he +still sat. When the golden moon rose above the towering mountain, +dispelling the hideousness of a lonesome, dark night, he was still +sitting in the same spot, dangling his heels against the solid +embankment. Across his limbs lay his rifle, his right hand protecting +it, while his chin rested firmly in his left hand, which was supported +at the elbow by his left leg. Thus he sat silent, no sound save that of +the rippling waters of the little running brook breaking the stillness +of the night.</p> + +<p>"Ah me, ah me!" sighed Wade. His head was bent and his heart was +stooped; it must be all over. "For so long a time have I been about this +mountain, and the object of my coming, though faithfully sought, has not +been found; my purpose remains yet unfulfilled. The tortures I would +have inflicted upon others have been turned upon my own heart. My soul +is sad. I give up, I give up, for all time. There are now no murderous +intents in my heart, there are now no evil designs in my life. Would +that I was at peace with everybody. All my heart's desire is peace, +sweet peace, that I might spend the balance of my days amid the sweet +perfumed mountain flowers and about this dear little stream with whose +swiftly running waters I have raced so often, always with her, the +sweetest and most beautiful of all. Dear wild flower of the mountain!"</p> + +<p>Wade raised his head until he looked into the beautiful blue of the +heavens. The gleaming stars, arrayed in silvery brightness, looked down +on him.</p> + +<p>"Speak, lights of God, speak to my waiting heart, speak to my burdened +soul and tell me, if you can, what the future holds in store for me. Am +I to continue in hell on earth for my evil life? If so, tell me quick +that I might dash my head against yonder rock and end the torture now. +If not, speak, that she might live. God save her, let not her present +illness separate us forever. It would blight my life; it would kill me. +Save her that she may save my soul from a torturous hell; save her that +her sweet life might be a blessing to the great, big world beyond this +mountain, which she so much longs to see."</p> + +<p>Jack felt much better—as does anyone after a faithful prayer. He felt +that his prayer had been answered already, and rose in great haste to +make his way back over the mountain to the bedside of Nora. He had not +seen her all day, had been afraid to see her lest he should find her +cold in death, but rather spent a great portion of the day in prayer for +her immediate relief. When he arrived at the cabin of Peter Judson the +flickering candle-light was still in the window, burning low. His heart +sank; it was emblematic of a low ebbing life. With bowed head and +unsteady step he went in. Old Rover, still lying quietly and silently on +the porch, did not rise at Wade's approach, but wagged his tail in +recognition. A death-like quiet pervaded the place, a solemn stillness +overspread the home, but he was encouraged to go on, with a feeling that +matters were improved.</p> + +<p>Old Peter met him at the door, and to his anxious, questioning stare he +said: "She's much better; the danger is over."</p> + +<p>"Thank God," came in broken whisper.</p> + +<p>Wade sat down by the bedside and took the slender, pale hand in his own +strong one. For a moment no sound came from the lips of either of them, +they just looked into each other's eyes until the weaker ones became +mist-filled, and those strong, manly eyes of Jack Wade battled hard +against heavy odds just at that moment, but the tears were held firmly +back while he rubbed the hand which he held.</p> + +<p>"I'm much better now, Jack." The voice was low and weak, but sweet and +serene. "Your presence is like good medicine. Why haven't you been by +before?"</p> + +<p>Wade would not tell her that the balm came from God; therein he was +weak. His excuse was, however, satisfying to the tired and worn mind, +and strength to the wasted frame. She looked up into his face sweetly.</p> + +<p>"You look so tired and worn, Jack," she said, "have you been worrying a +great deal?"</p> + +<p>"I have worried much, dear girl, on your account. Now that you are +better, I will not look worried any more."</p> + +<p>"Have you encountered any trouble lately, has your life been +threatened?"</p> + +<p>"It has not. All has been peace and quiet without; the turbulence has +been within only. I do not have fears for anything as regards the power +or will of man. We must not talk of those things just now. When you are +stronger I have much to tell you."</p> + +<p>"Then I must get stronger fast, for I cannot bear to lie here while you +are withholding something from me."</p> + +<p>"I fear you won't like me when I have confessed and laid my life bare +before you."</p> + +<p>"That cannot be, Jack. Nothing at all shall separate us, so far as I am +concerned."</p> + +<p>Wade raised the thin pale hand to his lips and kissed it, thus bringing +a flush to her sweet face.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + + +<p>Nora gradually regained her old strength, and after a few weeks had +passed she was going about doing her domestic duties as before. Jack +Wade was sorrowful no longer, and Rover was himself once more.</p> + +<p>When the good dog saw Wade coming through the gate he began wagging his +tail and showing by other signs that he was as happy as the human beings +about him. When Wade departed for his own cabin Rover would accompany +him, sometimes halfway, sometimes the entire distance, as if he believed +harm would come to his friend unless he kept close watch over him. +Somehow, Rover had a better instinct in sniffing danger than most dogs, +and when there was the least intimation of danger or trouble Rover +scented it very early, and generally conveyed the news to those about +him in his own good way. He was fully understood, his language was well +known to his masters, and they knew by his actions what was about to +happen.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that, when Wade was doing his evening chores, Rover came +galloping into the horse-lot, baying in a troubled fashion. Something +was about to happen. Rover never acted in this manner unless it was so. +He ran whining to Wade, caught his boot-leg between his teeth and +pulled; then letting loose, darted rapidly toward the gate, back again, +barking in a manner indicating fear, taking the boot-leg again and +pulling vigorously.</p> + +<p>"What, old boy," said Wade, "some more trouble in the air? Well, just be +patient until I can lock this door and get my good weapons, and we shall +see what it's all about."</p> + +<p>So speaking to the dog, Wade locked the barn, hurried into the house +and, taking his two pistols and rifle, started cautiously up the lane +toward Judson's cabin. Night had fallen and the moon was just peeping up +over the hills, sending forth a dim dusty light, while the sky was +canopied with a very thin white cloud and the stars gave forth no light +at all. Wade made his way as noiselessly as possible, followed by Rover. +Looking in the direction of Judson's, he saw a streak of light made from +the flash of a rifle shot, followed by a faint report, which meant a +bullet to where he knew not. He knew that the long looked for trouble +was on in real earnest, therefore hastened his pace. The firing from +many rifles became more general. He had got close enough to see that +there were more than a half dozen combatants firing on Judson's cabin +from toward the hill. Judson and his son Tom were returning the fire at +intervals in an effort to repulse the attack, and had been successful in +holding off a rush. From his position Wade could have taken off two of +the opponents before they discovered him, but the flashing fire of his +rifle, however, would have disclosed his hiding place.</p> + +<p>He thought for a moment, raised his rifle to his shoulder and took +deliberate aim at a foe sitting on the back of his horse. No, that would +be murder straight out. God forbid! Still, the impulse to fire clung to +him, but he could not seem to pull the trigger. The firing between the +combatants now became more furious, and suddenly he heard someone in the +house cry out with pain. Again he took aim at the man nearest him, +fully intending to put out the light of life. His finger touched the +trigger and in another moment one would have been slain, when a hand was +laid gently upon his shoulder. It was so sudden, however, in that +terrible moment, that fright ran through him and he accidentally pulled +the trigger of his rifle, but the ball went high into the air. He was +hastily pulled into the cover of the barn.</p> + +<p>The effects of his shot worked terror to the hearts of the attacking +party, however, who thought they were being surrounded on all sides by +unknown foes, therefore took time by the forelock and fled in great +confusion toward the hills. But look! one horse bounded off riderless. +Could it be possible that one was in hiding near, and intended doing a +bit of guerrilla fighting?</p> + +<p>Wade stood like one transfixed to the spot, looking after the fleeing +horses of the enemy, not once turning to see who touched him, until the +last fleeing form had passed from view and the firing had ceased +altogether; then he turned and stood face to face with Nora Judson. A +flush, unseen through the darkness, covered his hitherto pale face. For +one brief moment they stood facing each other.</p> + +<p>"How came you here?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Our mutual friend told me that you was about to fall into an error." +She looked toward Rover, who stood at one side wagging his tail. "Jack," +she said, tenderly yet sorrowfully, "you were about to commit murder."</p> + +<p>"I <i>might</i> have killed one of those fellows, but I cannot see that it +would have been murder in a real sense; we are enemies, and this has +been a small war."</p> + +<p>"But you were about to take the life of someone in a manner that I would +not call bravery. You were not in front of the battle as an open enemy. +The fellow you would have killed knew nothing of your presence here, and +that would have been cold-blooded murder."</p> + +<p>"What is the difference in this country, where all is murder?"</p> + +<p>Wade was evidently trying to relieve his conscience.</p> + +<p>"The difference is not with the other fellow, but with you. I am glad, +however, that you did not kill him."</p> + +<p>"I am also glad of that, Nora, thanks to you." They were now walking +toward the cabin. "Was anyone inside hurt?" asked Wade. "I heard someone +cry painfully."</p> + +<p>"That was Dad's ruse to draw them to a closer range, but it was the +accidental discharge of your rifle that put a stop to the fight."</p> + +<p>Peter Judson was cautiously peering about, when he espied Wade and Nora.</p> + +<p>"Hi, thar!" he said. "Be ye enemies or friends?"</p> + +<p>"Friends," replied Wade.</p> + +<p>"Ye jest missed some fun, shore. Reckon we give them fellers 'bout as +good a scare as ever they had, don't you think?"</p> + +<p>"From the way they retreated," said Wade, "I believe they were +frightened; but we must be very careful, Judson,—one horse went up the +hill riderless."</p> + +<p>Old man Peter scratched his head. "The dickens ye say. Reckon what that +means, Wade?"</p> + +<p>"That someone is lurking around in the dark to pick us off when we least +expect it."</p> + +<p>"Wade, ye don't know these fellers yet, long's ye've been here. +Somebody's lyin' out yonder dead, as shore as you live. Tom, git the +lantern an' come on; let's take a look."</p> + +<p>Followed by Tom and Wade, Peter went out the gate toward the spot where +the enemy were located while the fighting was going on. Old Peter, that +old time scout of the mountains, stopped and stood in a listening +attitude. Now he heard the faint groan from someone to the left of them; +his trained ear carried him to the fallen man.</p> + +<p>"Hi, thar, friend!" he called out; "whar air ye?"</p> + +<p>"I'm dyin'," came back the groaning reply, "I'm dyin', shore; this +time."</p> + +<p>Peter went on and bent over the fallen form. Throwing the glare of his +lantern in the face of the man, he gasped, "My God! it's Al Thompson."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's Al, old man; ye got me this time." Thompson was speaking +laboriously, while Wade and those near listened breathlessly. Thompson +was dying sure enough. His last words were a curse against those who had +been his enemies. "Ye got me now, damn ye!" he said, "but I'll git ye +when ye come down ter t'other world, ye——"</p> + +<p>Thompson could say no more.</p> + +<p>Peter looked into the pale face. "He's dead, shore, boys; he's a goner +now, an' won't give us any more trouble."</p> + +<p>Just at this juncture there could be heard the sound of the heavy beat +of horses coming over the mountain.</p> + +<p>"Git back a little, quick!" said Peter, "they mout be more trouble in +the air."</p> + +<p>There was no further danger, however, for old Jim Thompson came over +the mountain bearing the flag of truce; with him were two other men.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Judson!" he cried, "come out quick. There will be no more fightin' +from this side." Old man Thompson was quite surprised to hear Judson +reply from a very few feet away: "Ef ye mean that, Jim, hit's good news, +an' I'm with ye; but ef ye air a-jokin' or workin' a game, ye better go +slow."</p> + +<p>"I'm sincere, Peter," replied Thompson. "Ye've shot my arm off agin +to-night an' killed Al, an' I've got 'nough, an' nuthin' left to fight +fer. It's no fault o' yours, as I kin see."</p> + +<p>"I'm willin' ter be yer friend, Jim. Git down an' les hold prayer over +Al's dead body, an' bind this covenant over him so's ther fust one as +breaks it, let them what hears kill us then an' thar."</p> + +<p>Wade and Nora stood off a few paces and, though there was gloom about +the mountain side for some, they were very happy with the thought that +with Al Thompson out of the way their troubles would forever end.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>There remains no more incidents to be related in the story of John +Redmond's desire for revenge, other than to relate that he told his +secret to Nora, who in turn told her father all. Peter related the full +circumstances of the death of the elder John Redmond, and proved beyond +the shadow of a doubt that Al Thompson slew him single handed.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Nightrider's Feud, by Walter C. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Nightrider's Feud + +Author: Walter C. McConnell + +Release Date: October 2, 2010 [EBook #33829] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NIGHTRIDER'S FEUD *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Kentuckiana Digital Library) + + + + + + + + + + The Nightriders' Feud + + By Walter C. McConnell + + + NEW YORK + THE COSMOPOLITAN PRESS + 1912 + + Copyright, 1912, by + Walter C. McCONNELL + + + + +The Nightriders' Feud + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +John Redmond, the second, had just completed his education in a New York +college, having been graduated with high honors, and was therefore +prepared to go out into the world and set it on fire with his +brilliancy. But the call of the great business world was strangely +superseded by the "call of the wild," which had long since taken firm +hold upon his young heart. Since his earliest recollections his soul had +longed to go out into the wild Western country, and he was now fully +determined to appease his adventurous appetite amid the great wild +mountains of the West. + +Thoughts concerning his future flitted fast through his study-ladened +brain as the train sped on toward his home. Yes, he would go to the +mountains and seek gold or coal where others, with less ability to find, +had passed over the immense wealth which must surely lie hid deep +beneath the great earthen mounds. This wealth, he thought, had been +placed there by the Maker of the mighty earth, that his great skill as +an engineer might be made known to the world. It was there for his own +pleasure; it had not been intended that others should make the +discovery. His training would enable him to make discoveries which +others had not been skillful enough to make. The life would be just to +his liking, and would fill a long-felt desire to invade the bowels of +the hitherto uninvaded depths of rocky earth. It was not his intention +to delay one moment; he would go at once. + +The train sped on, and he reached his home in good time. There he was +greeted with the sad news that his uncle, John Redmond, for whom he was +named, had been slain by murderous Nightriders over in the valley of +Kentucky. His tobacco crop had been utterly destroyed, his barns and +out-houses devastated, his home burned to the earth, and as he was +fleeing from the burning building, in an effort to save himself from a +torturous death, he had been shot down in his tracks like a dog, a +forty-four Winchester bullet tearing his heart to pieces. + +What more would man need to set his soul on fire? What more would he +need to raise his ire to the verge of distraction? + +John Redmond, the second, stood with bowed head, listening to the +terrible outrage; his Southern blood warmed to the boiling point. His +heart beat fast, his teeth came together with a sharp noise, and his +fists were tightly clenched. Revenge burned within him, his soul felt +that the foul deed called for vengeance. In a twinkling his plans were +changed. His adventurous spirit told him that his life's work had been +found, that he must hie him to the country where his uncle had met such +a hasty and untimely death; that he must seek out those who had murdered +him and revenge the cold deed. + +John Redmond had hardly known this uncle, having seen him only one time, +but he was a kinsman, the same blood ran through their veins, their +forefathers were the same, and he would be speedily avenged. + +The younger Redmond sent agents into Kentucky to purchase land, and in a +little while all preparations for a hasty departure had been made. The +cabin purchased needed repair, but that would be done with his own +hands. He would have plenty of time for all such work. + +His intention was to go over and raise tobacco in direct opposition to +the great association of good farmers. Let them do what they would, he +would show them that he was a man of his own notions, and no set of men +could run him, much less a body of uneducated "galoots." + +Next you see of John Redmond he is crossing the country by wagon train. +Slowly his caravan moves, finally reaching the place purchased for the +future home of this man of strong desires and peculiar aims. The +belongings were unloaded, and those who assisted him in the move bade +him a successful ending and returned to civilization. While John +Redmond, who introduced himself to this new country as "Jack Wade," was +making preparations for a comfortable living, the eyes of the +surrounding community were cast upon him. Slowly and untiringly he +labored for a few weeks, getting everything in comfortable condition, +seeking the assistance of the few loafing farmers, until matters were +fairly arranged and everything fixed up comfortably for bachelor +quarters. + +If one should have been standing on the hill at a time very near sunset +one afternoon, he could have seen Jack Wade, the graduate engineer, +standing at the bars or gate leading from his horse-lot to a plot of +ground used as a pasture for his one cow and one horse. He no longer has +the appearance of a soft-skinned school-boy, but rather is dark and +ruddy, the warm Kentucky sun having changed his complexion. He has on a +blue shirt, soft, with collar attached, high-top boots, into the legs +of which his corduroy pantaloons are stuffed, in the style of a true +Westerner. He has one foot resting upon the lower wire while his arms +fell loosely across the top wire. He is surveying with his keen dark eye +the surrounding country, not having had time heretofore to look about +him. + +Over yonder, about one mile to the south of him, is a farmhouse; over to +his right, and a little to the northwest, is another cabin. Behind him +looms up the huge mountain, amid whose rugged rocks and green shrubbery +much of his time will be spent. He turns and looks toward the mountain; +there he sees another cabin, or small house. It is the home of a tobacco +planter, who has one son and an only daughter. + +Nora Judson has many times looked longingly down the dusty road toward +the cabin of the newcomer and wondered what he was like. Her scheming +brain found a way by which she could tell. + +Twilight's shadows are drawing the day to a close. Down the cow-trodden +road can be seen an old brindle cow, coming leisurely, switching her +tail from one side to the other, nibbling the sweet tufts of grass along +the side of the trail. On she comes, until she passes the watcher and +goes out into the woodland just beyond. + +Wade watched the cow until she was out of sight, then he sighed. + +"It's going to be a fearful job," he said mentally, "but the thing +_shall_ be done. Not one of them shall be left if God spares me long +enough to take them away." + +As the last words left his mind he glanced heavenward, as if to implore +the Almighty to aid him in a work which he honestly thought was for the +good of humanity at large and for God Himself. He was honestly convinced +that he was on an errand of great mercy, and the world would be made +better and humanity live more peaceably among themselves, and more godly +by the fulfillment of his plans. + +"Not one," he repeated, "not one shall be left to molest the peace of +the innocent ones in this great valley,"--he swept his hand about him +tragically,--"in this wonderful valley." + +He sighed again. The gloom of a departing day was gathering about him. +The lonesomeness of a twilight in the valley was making a deep +impression upon his young life and he was beginning to long for +companionship. + +The monotony of the hour was broken by the faint sound of a female voice +coming from toward the mountain, calling, "Soo-cow, soo-cow, sook-sook!" +The call came vibrating down through the valley to his listening ears. +Jack Wade's heart gave one joyful bound because a human being, and that +a girl, was near. Nearer and nearer came the call, until through the +gathering darkness could be seen the form of a valley maid. Soon she +hove into full view just up the road. On she came, calling the cow, +until she stood directly opposite Wade. + +Apparently she had not before noticed him standing beside the fence. + +"Good-evening," said Wade pleasantly. A lovely flush covered her dark +face. + +"Howdy?" she replied. Then falteringly, "Seen anything of a old brindle +cow down this away?" + +"Yes," said Wade. "She's just yonder in the woodland grazing leisurely. +I'll go fetch her for you." + +"Ye needn't be so kind," said the girl. "I kin git her myself. Much +obleeged." + +She started on, unmindful of his grateful glance, after the cow. + +"I'll go with you, if you don't mind," he said, "and show you where to +find her." + +She didn't mind, so Wade bolted, in athletic style, over the fence and +joined her. + +Old Peter Judson's daughter was a very beautiful girl. Jack looked into +her face,--he had nothing else to do just now,--and wondered how it was +possible that she could be so pretty. Though born and reared in the +valley, and having known nothing of the outside world, she was fearless +in speech and manner. Her form was indeed very fine for one who had not +the opportunities to gather grace, her voice was musically soft and +sweet, her face was delicately fair. She looked up into Wade's eyes with +an expression of earnestness that was almost an appeal. + +"Ye are the newcomer, ain't ye?" she asked, unabashed. + +"I've not been here a great many days," he replied thoughtfully. + +"Have ye come to stay?" she asked. + +The question was very direct, but Wade felt no uneasiness in replying +truthfully. He had come to stay so long as everything was pleasant for +him, otherwise he might pull up "stakes" and leave when he thought the +time was ripe. + +Her next question was even more direct. She stood for one moment, +surveying Wade casually. + +"Have ye come to raise terbacker?" she asked. + +"No," he replied, "I shall raise tobacco but in small quantities, merely +as a pastime. I am here especially on account of my health." + +She surveyed him again, her large dark eyes going over him from head to +feet. + +"Ye don't look unhealthy." + +She was quite right. He did not look unhealthy. His large athletic frame +was not physically disabled. + +"No?" he questioned. "Well, I'm not quite dead." + +He laughed and so did she laugh, her silvery voice ringing out through +the fast gathering darkness. + +"There is your brindle cow," he said, pointing to the creature which +stood with neck bent, looking back at the two approaching figures. + +"Thank ye for bein' so kind," she said, looking up at him with a +grateful expression upon her countenance. Picking up a short piece of +broken tree limb she went round the cow, crying "Hooey-hooey!" and +striking her about the flanks. The cow, fully understanding what was +wanted of her, started back up the road toward home, while the girl +appeared to pay no further heed to Wade's presence, feeling that he had +done his full duty in locating the cow. However, the latter followed her +out of the woods, both of them trailing along slowly and silently behind +the cow. + +"I'm going to help you to get the runaway home," said Wade, smiling. + +"Ye needn't," she exclaimed; "I know the road all right," a little +sarcastically. + +"But I also want to learn it," he replied, not in the least rebuffed. + +"Ye might be losin' time for me, an' I don't want ye to do that," +tenderly. + +"I'd rather lose time assisting you than do anything else at this +moment." + +"Oh!" she exclaimed, "ef ye want to learn the road, come on." + +Her face flushed. She felt it, but Wade could not penetrate the twilight +sufficiently to discern the crimson coloring. + +"I do want to," he said, "and I wish I had such a companion to show me +the way over the mountain and through the entire country." + +Unheeding this remark, she said, "Hit's a little lonely, livin' alone, +hain't it?" + +"It is while I am not very well acquainted with my neighbors, but I +shall become better acquainted soon. One cannot expect to be greatly +elated at once, or happy altogether, until he knows his neighbors well." + +"Nice folks 'round here," she replied. "Once you git to know them you +are sure to like them." + +There came a moment of silence. + +"Do you live in the house toward the mountain?" asked Wade. + +"That's Dad's house. I live there--have lived there for many years." + +"You are very fond of the hills and ravines, I presume?" + +"An' the brooks. They are the only companions I have ever known, except +my brother, an' he's been in the saddle ever since I was old enough to +have companions, or remember anything. They are my friends,--the cow and +the dog, the chickens an' the geese, the ducks an' the turkeys, an' even +the grunting pigs, are the only friends I have ever known." + +"What a terribly lonesome life that seems to have been." + +"Not to me; it has been a happy one." + +"Pardon me, I should not have spoken that way." + +"Hit don't make any difference how you speak," she said independently. +"We are used to everything here." + +"Who lives yonder to the south of us?" asked Wade, pointing in the +direction indicated. + +"Jim Thompson. He's a terbacker raiser, too." + +"And who to the west yonder?" + +"Oh, that's the place where old John Redmond lived. It's not used now." + +There was a tinge of sorrow in the girl's voice as she spoke. + +"What became of old John Redmond?" asked Wade, his own voice quivering. + +"Don't ye know, hain't ye heerd?" + +"Haven't heard anything yet; haven't been here long enough to learn +much." + +This untruth brought a flush over Jack Wade's face, but it was not seen +by the girl, the darkness being too deep. + +"He was killed by the Nightriders," she said, choking; "shot to death +when his home was burned." + +"So that's the course pursued with a fellow here, is it?" Wade's lips +curled scornfully. + +"Sometimes, an' sometimes they don't. It's accordin' to what the other +feller is about." + +"What has a fellow to do to bring about such an end as that served out +to old John Redmond?" + +"Nuthin'. Old John didn't do nuthin'; that's what the trouble was." + +"Who are the Nightriders?" asked Wade, after a moment's thought. + +"Say, stranger," said the girl at this juncture, and evasively, "here's +my home, an' ye better git now. Ef Dad ketches ye here he mou't do to ye +like them fellers done old John Redmond, so I says much obleege fer +helpin' me fetch the old brindle cow home." + +"I'll help _you_ any time I can," he said. + +"Thank ye," she held out her hand shyly. Jack Wade held it in his own, +pressing it tenderly, until she pulled it away from him. + +"Good-by," she said softly. + +"Good-by," he returned, and then turned to face the lonesome gloom. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +As Jack Wade faced about to return to his own cabin he saw a lone +horseman coming up the road toward him, riding very rapidly, which was a +custom in the country. No one ever rode slowly. + +Remembering the girl's remarks of warning, he concluded it the height of +wisdom to be seen as little as possible lurking around the vicinity, as +he was in the community for an avowed purpose and he must be very +cautious in order to fulfill his mission. He therefore stepped back into +the shadow of a friendly bush and allowed the horseman to gallop by +without discovering him. He turned and watched the rider, until he +entered the gate through which the girl had driven the cow a few moments +before. A sudden impulse seized him to creep back under the shadow of +the trees and learn what he might from the conversation which he could +now hear but faintly. This being a very dangerous proceeding, his mind +was changed. He did not feel that he was thoroughly enough acquainted +with the surroundings nor the people and their customs, and would take +no chances until he should know more clearly what he was about--until he +became more accustomed to everything and everybody. + +The horseman he had seen was none other than Tom Judson, brother of the +girl he had assisted in locating the cow. Tom rode into the lot, jumped +from his horse in true Western style, threw the reins of his bridle over +the saddle-horn, rapped the horse over the hips with his gloves, and +walked on behind him to the barn. Nora was now milking the old brindle +cow, and her father was inside the barn putting feed into the trough for +the stock. + +"Peers ye air mighty late git'n' yer milkin' done," said Tom. "What's +ther matter of ye?" + +He tapped the girl upon the head with the finger end of his glove, and +he tapped her again because she made no immediate reply. + +"Reckon I hain't no later git'n' hit done than ye are a git'n' home, +seein' as how I'm most done now," she replied. + +"Milkin' a cow hain't nuthin' like takin' a day fer to ride over the +country a givin' warnin's." + +"What ye warnin' 'bout now, Tom?" she asked, with much interest. + +"Go 'long, gal. Ye ain't been raised in this country fer nothin'! Ye +know what I've been warnin' 'bout well 'nough, 'thout axin' me. They's +a-goin' ter be hell raised in this country to-night. That's what I've +been warnin' 'bout. Now do ye know, durn ye!" + +"I reckon I do. Who's a-goin' ter git it this time?" + +"Aw, ye want to know too much all to once. Jest wait 'til ye see ther +blaze 'long erbout midnight, an' ye'll know all ye want to know." + +"I mout be asleep then." Nora spoke feelingly. She desired to know more, +but hesitated to ask direct questions. + +"Yes," said Tom, "I reckon ye will be asleep when ye think somethin's +a-goin' to be a-doin'. Them durn big black eyes of yourn'll see +everything in the whole blame valley afore mornin'. Ye kin see plum +through ther mountain when ye want to, an' they'll be a plenty fer you +ter see to-night, an' ther newcomer----!" Tom stopped suddenly and Nora +looked hastily up, inquiringly, hoping to hear him finish the sentence, +but he spoke never another word. + +"What's hit about ther newcomer, Tom?" she asked after a moment's +hesitation. + +"Nuthin'. What'd ye keer if hit was anything about him?" + +"I don't; but ye was about ter say somethin' about him. That's why I +axed ye. I don't keer nothin' about him no mor'n anybody else." Nora did +have some anxiety about his safety, however, but she did not wish to +show this to Tom. She knew her brother's failing. + +"Well," said Tom slowly, "seein' as how ye don't keer, I was a-goin' ter +say that he'd git his fill of peekin' 'round here afore he's many days +older, d'ye hear me?" + +Nora did hear, and felt a pang peculiarly new to her pass over her +heart. Having now finished milking the old brindle cow, she raised up, +gave her a kick on the legs, and poured the milk into a larger pail +conveniently near. For one moment she studied the features of her +brother, then spoke to him tenderly. + +"Now, Tom," she said, "what has ther newcomer done that ye've got it in +fer him?" + +"Nuthin'," sullenly. "Nuthin' 'tall. Thought ye didn't keer so much +'bout him?" + +"I don't." + +"Then ye air mighty interested in somethin' down that away. What made ye +ax me that fer?" + +"Aw, go 'long, will ye? Ef ye don't know nuthin', keep yer lips +buttoned; ef ye know somethin', tell it, an' don't be so tight with yer +knowin's." + +"Ye air sassy, sis. Well, they hain't nuthin' ther matter with him, but +he acts like he mout do somethin' ef he hain't checked fust. Ef he opens +his mouth too much 'round here ye know good an' well what mout happen +ter him putty quick, don't ye?" + +Tom gave Nora a slap in the face and followed on after his horse. + +Old Peter Judson came out of the barn and, upon seeing Tom, asked if he +had given the warning to everybody. He had, he said, "and what's more, +everybody'd be thar." + +Nora took up her milk pails and hurried into the house, where she found +her mother busily engaged in getting supper on the table. After +straining the milk and putting it away in its accustomed place, she +assisted her mother in the work. + +Silence prevailed within her soul. Not a word escaped her lips as she +busied herself over the meal. Somehow she felt a strange foreboding. Her +heart was full of thought for the safety of the newcomer, in whom she +felt a peculiar interest. + +He, not at all like other men she had known, had spoken kind words to +her, and they touched a tender spot in her heart. He had assisted her to +find the old brindle cow and had helped to drive her home. What was it +that attracted this wild flower of the mountain to this man? And what +was it that caused the unhappy throb when Tom remarked concerning him? +These remarks were anything but reassuring. She worked on amid her +soliloquy. + +Mrs. Judson could not refrain from remarking the contrast between this +thoughtful girl and her own Nora. + +"Ye air mighty quiet, Nora," she said, her face drawn up gingerly. +"What's ther matter of ye, that yer tongue hain't a-waggin' as usual?" + +Nora stood for one moment thoughtfully pondering, while she deftly +dried, for the third time, the saucer which she held in her hand, then +throwing the dish towel over her shoulder, she faced her mother. + +"Cain't a feller be quiet 'thout somebody a-thinkin' somethin's wrong?" + +She was smiling deeply, the dimples in her cheeks showing beautifully. + +"Not 'round this hyar kintry," replied Mrs. Judson. "Ye know yerself +that when everythings quiet like 'round this hill somethin's 'bout ter +happen. Now what does ail ye? What is ther matter with yer?" + +"Tom says theys a-goin' ter be doin's 'round here to-night," replied +Nora, "an' I reckon he knows, ef anybody does." + +Mrs. Judson now assumed an air of utter silence. She knew full well that +her daughter spoke the truth, that when Tom said that something was +likely to happen about the valley it usually did happen, and very soon +thereafter. + +Tom and his father came into supper and ate quietly, while the women +served them, this being the custom in this country. The fact that they +were non-communicative now was because no doubt they had said, before +entering the room, all that was necessary concerning the plans for the +night. Nora remained in silence, ate her meal and cleared away the +dishes, still holding the silence. She gazed up at the twinkling stars +dancing in the heavens, at the great moon shining brightly, sending +darting rays through the foliage of the large trees overhanging the +cabin. A silvery mist hung over the mountain and flitted through the +valley, the while the stars smiled down on the troubled earth. Troubled? +Yes, all mankind is troubled down the valley. Over all the deep blue of +the heavens dropped a shining sheen to cover the already beautiful +landscape. From afar over the mountain the voice of the night-bird came +gliding through the mist, the "hoot" of the night owl sounded a note of +warning, the sleepless animals of darkness pealed forth their notes of +joy as they gamboled over the green mountainside, and down, far down in +the depths of the rich valley, the cow-bell tinkled as the cow nibbled +the sweet green grass. None of these had thoughts of fear, none of +these discerned the great danger to humanity, none of these felt the +deep heart throbs that beat in the breast of humanity. + +It is growing late, but Nora Judson did not retire at her usual hour. +She dared not, lest she should lose the sight that had greeted her on +many similar occasions. However, she should not fail in one duty, her +evening prayer. This had been a lifelong duty, taught her early. Even in +the roughest and most rugged parts of this great universe the children +are taught that God liveth and reigneth. Somehow God gets into the most +seemingly forsaken communities in the remotest corners of the earth, and +lets it be known that He is the Almighty. He assumes power everywhere. +The child of the wildest region learns some form of prayer. Mrs. Judson +had taught Nora in her earliest days to say "Now I lay me down to +sleep," but knowing that she was not going to sleep this night Nora said +to herself, "What shall I do? what shall I do? fer I hain't a-goin' to +lay me down ter sleep this night. I hain't. O Lord, what shall I say?" + +Strange as it may seem, it had never occurred to her that any form of +speech other than she had been taught would be a prayer, therefore she +was utterly lost to know how to proceed. She looked wonderingly +heavenward as if to catch inspiration. Then it was that the thought was +aroused within her, the thought that she should pray for others. Her +pure young heart had found a way to speak to God, so she bowed her head +and clasped her hands and said tenderly, "O God,"--she hesitated as if +gathering thought for expression,--"kin Ye keep a secret? Ef Ye kin, +don't tell anybody how the old brindle cow got under the wire. Don't, +fer goodness' sake, 'cause ef ye do, hit mout git _him_ into trouble. O +God, he is so nice. Them han'some eyes of his'n is a-hauntin' of me yet, +an' he was so good ter help me find old brindle an' drive her home. I +_was_ askeered to come up ther road by myself, but I didn't want to let +on to him like as ef I was, 'cause he mout a-thought I was weak, an' he +was so good an' spoke so tenderly an' kind-like. + +"No man hain't never spoke to me that away afore, not even Al Thompson; +but I 'spect I don't keer nuthin' 'bout Al, an' maybe I never did; an' +_he_ said he was here for his health an' would raise ter--he said +to-bac-co. He knows, an' that must be right. O God, I hope Ye didn't let +Tom see him as he was a-goin' back ter his shanty, 'cause ef ye did, hit +mout bring on more trouble fer him, an' I know Ye don't want him to get +into trouble. Tom's a good boy an' don't mean anybody harm, but----" + +Nora stopped and leaned forward, straining her ears to catch the weird +sound. From toward the mountain there came the clattering of many +horses' feet as they fell heavily upon the rocky hillside. On they came. +Nearer and nearer, louder and louder, the clattering sound grew. + +Every strike of a hoof upon the rocky way was like a needle driven into +her breast over her heart. With few words she cut her prayer short. +Looking heavenward she muttered imploringly, "Save him, an' let old +brindle git out again sometime." + +She stepped over to her one lonely, paneless window, pulled the latch +string, shoved the wooden panel aside and, peering out into the gloom, +listened with heavy beating heart to the clatter of the horses' feet as +they drew nearer. Heretofore this same sound had been as sweet music in +her ears. She had grown up in the midst of it, and her heart bounded +with great pleasure whenever she heard such a sound; but now it was +different, somehow she did not enjoy it. The many horsemen drew nearer, +until she could see them bounding rapidly down the mountain road. + +Outside she saw two lone horsemen in saddles, standing by the gate, as +immovable as statues. Silently they sat, neither horse nor rider moving, +not a sound escaping their lips. The mighty throng of horsemen were now +passing directly in front, and the two silent watchers of the night +quickly joined the mad race. Not a word escaped any of them until they +were nearing Jack Wade's cabin. Then one fellow leaned over and +whispered, through his heavy dark head-gear, to his companion nearest +him, "Wonder if he'll fall in, too?" There was no reply. Perhaps one was +not expected. + +On they flew, black demons of darkness, destructive vultures of freedom, +cutting the wind as if they had been a two-edged sword; slashing the +mist with their foaming steeds, dark steeds, as dark as the starless +night; enshrouded in caps as dark as the cloud-covered moon, speaking +never a word, but groaning destruction deep down in their revengeful +souls. + +Jack Wade was awakened from a peaceful slumber by the thundrous tramp of +the horses' heavy feet as they galloped swiftly by. He rose stupidly and +went out, but as he looked, saw nothing, yet it seemed to him that the +very atmosphere of the valley was alive with fantastic dancers. The +weird spectacle grew before his sleep-ladened eyes, until the devils of +hell seemed encrouched about him. Evidently they were bent on tearing +his heart asunder, for there they were preparing to spring upon him. + +"Begone, ye devils!" + +The beat of the horses' feet falling upon the softer ground grew fainter +and fainter, until the sound could be heard no more. Wade sat in his +doorway pondering and wondering over the strangeness of the people among +whom he had taken up his abode. He knew that the noise which woke him +had been made by the tramping of many horses, but knew not whither they +were bound, nor what their errand. He sat for a long time looking down +through the lowlands, dreaming, pondering. Ever the great dark eyes of +the valley girl danced in the moonlight space before him. Her soft +stare, tender hands, and innocent expression haunted him. Out in the +deep distance a dog was baying. The horsemen had no doubt awakened him +as they had awakened Wade, and he was entering his protest in loud and +continuous bays. Behind him a rooster was crowing the midnight hour, his +own wall clock tolling the same hour. Overhead the moon was shining +brightly, sending her silvery rays to greet all the earth. + +Suddenly there arose over the valley the shout of many voices, mingled +with the baying of as many dogs, then the midnight air was rent in twain +by the vibrations caused from the firing of pistols and rifles. + +"What now?" thought the ponderer. "Ye gods! this is a fearful +condition." + +Some two miles away a faint red light grew up out of the mist. Wade +strained his eyes in an effort to discern more clearly the cause. The +light grew until the watcher could clearly discern the flickering blaze +as it leaped high into the heavens, apparently bent on devouring the +very stars that gave light to the darkened earth. Still the blaze grew, +sending forth sparks like great balloons of fire. Over a little way +beyond another light sprang up to greet the straining eyes of the +watcher, and also grew in brightness, until the whole landscape for +miles over the valley was one bright sea of flame. The sight was too +much for Wade; he could not sit longer and watch it from such a great +distance. Hastily saddling his horse he rode toward the conflagration, +having two specific objects in view. One, and the lesser, to witness the +great conflagration; the other, to learn something of interest to +himself. + +The road over which he was traveling was so entirely new to him that he +found it quite difficult to make any speed, therefore he resigned +himself to a jog-trot, picking his way over ravines and around low +growing shrubs, sometimes emerging out into the open and traveling +beneath the large forest trees. He often wondered how it was possible +for the horsemen who had gone on ahead of him to have kept up such a +terrible speed on such a road. They knew the earth beneath their horses' +feet, every inch of it, and feared not, he concluded. Their horses were +fully acquainted with the rough way, and hesitated not. How friendly the +light of the waning moon appeared to that lonely traveler in that silent +dark region! How beautifully shone the little friendly stars, those +small heavenly bodies, from their homes in the clear blue sky! One does +not realize the full value of the moonlight until one has real necessity +for it, then its great value is known--indeed no value can be placed +upon it then. + +No light now came from the conflagration he was desiring to witness, but +there would be, as soon as he emerged once more into the open. He went +on cautiously, until he came out into the moonlight again. Yonder to the +right of him was the fire, still burning brightly, sending up a +flickering blaze. He hurried his pace as much as possible over the road, +and now saw a lone horseman speeding like the wind toward him. In +another moment he passed. His head was uncovered, but that was not +unnatural. It was all right; he knew him not. This lone horseman turned +in his saddle and glanced at Wade when he had got past him, never a +moment allowing his steed to slacken his pace. That was also all right. +They did not know each other. Wade hurried on, finally reaching the +burning building, where he found not a living thing, human nor beast, +nothing saving the dying embers of a burning home. The light from the +burning barn was brighter, and as he glanced that way he discovered a +poor horse lying by the gate in the agonies of death. + +"Poor fellow," he thought, as he watched him breathe his last, "your +useful days are over; nothing can save you now." + +Wade looked farther. On all sides he saw nothing but charred ruins, dark +devastation, no sign of human nor animal life--not even a sign of +vegetable life. No noise, not even the deep bay or the low whine of the +farmhouse dog greeted his ears. Again he turned back into the darkness +of the night and made his way to his cabin, none the wiser for having +taken the trip. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Jack Wade was neither physically nor mentally afflicted. His great body +was physically strong, his mind was symmetrically powerful. His college +training prepared him to face the many difficult problems of life, his +elect wisdom led him carefully at all times, and his athletic ability +stood him well in hand on many occasions. As he sat pondering, he +wondered over the peculiar fact that not a soul in the entire valley +with whom he had talked had been willing to breathe one word concerning +the great conflagration of a few nights previous. No one ever spoke of +it, as though nothing so important had ever happened. Yet one man had +lost, in little more time than an hour, what it had taken a lifetime to +accumulate. + +Things down in the valley were mysteriously strange. Wade had been in +the community for some time, with an avowed purpose, but had not learned +a single thing that would lead him to any knowledge of what he most +desired to know. He was not yet even fully acquainted with his nearest +neighbors, and, feeling this to be necessary, he placed a book under his +arm and strode up the hot dusty road toward the cabin nearest the +mountain, knowing but little what kind of reception would be accorded +him. However, the reception was a secondary matter,--the sort did not +bother him in the least,--as his thoughts were not on kindly receptions +in this God-forsaken community. Apparently there was no friendly feeling +between any two persons in the valley, therefore he did not look for a +kindly reception, nor did he desire one. He wanted to know the people, +that was all. + +He passed the little bush which had so kindly sheltered him when Tom +Judson came rushing by, and reached the spot where he had bid the little +wild flower, the valley girl, good-by. It all looked the same yet. There +was the planter's cabin, just as he had seen it on the other occasion; +there was the old rickety wire gate through which the girl drove the cow +and through which her brother had led his horse soon afterward, and +through which he himself now strolled. He felt a peculiar shyness, this +man of the world, when he went into the little farmyard. The dog bayed, +the chickens cackled loudly, and the ducks quacked, raising their heads +loftily and scampering off toward the horse-lot. One old turkey gobbler +proudly strutted dangerously near him, signifying that he must be very +careful while treading on the soil of their domain. Through the window +the girl was watching him, her lustrous eyes all aglow at his approach, +her big heart beating a pit-a-pat against her shapely bosom, so fast +that she greatly feared lest he must hear it from his waiting place +outside. + +It was really the newcomer, the one person of all persons whom she most +desired to see. She remembered his last conversation, his kind words, +his attentive attitude. She had enjoyed him hugely, and wished for the +time when she should hear his sweet voice again. By the time he was +ready to knock she stood at the door, slightly blushing, not in the +least backward. Their eyes met, but that bespoke nothing. Her eyes had +met the gaze of others; so had his. + +"I've brought a book for you to read," he said, not knowing that she +could read at all. + +"You needn't," she replied, reddening. But she took the book, as he gave +it to her. Turning her face back toward the house she cried with a loud +voice, "Mam! here's John, ther newcomer." + +Jack looked up startled, greatly confused. She laughed at his confusion. + +"That's the name I give everybody who I don't know," she said, smiling. + +Wade felt quite relieved, his confusion at once disappearing. The +simplicity of this pure valley girl wrought within his soul a feeling +almost sympathetic. The simple means she had employed in asking him to +introduce himself caused a feeling akin to shame to cover his heart. +Recovering his composure, he said: + +"I am Jack Wade. I beg your pardon for not having told you before." + +"Ye needn't," she replied, extending her hand. A continuous smile played +about her face. + +"And your name?" he asked hesitatingly. + +"Huh!" she grunted. "Thought everybody knowed me. I'm Nory Judson, only +gal of Peter Judson, owner of this large terbac--to-bac-ker farm. I'm +pleased ter know ye, Jack." + +Wade smiled as she requested him to take a seat upon the rickety little +porch and make himself at home. She sat beside him and dangled her feet +in and out under the porch. + +"You haven't got it quite right yet," he said, looking into her face. + +"Got whut right?" she asked, a far-away expression covering her +countenance. + +"Tobacco. T-o-b-a-c-c-o." + +"To-bac-co, tobacco," she slowly spelled after him studiously. "I +thought hit was terbacker," she continued in apparent animation, "an' +nobody hain't never said hit ain't 'round here." She did not mean to +rebuke him for the correction. He thought so only because he understood +her so very little. However, the subject was most too grave for him just +at this juncture in their lives, therefore he quietly evaded further +comment, feeling assured that it was not his duty to show this simple, +sweet child of the mountainside how incorrectly she spoke, although he +would gladly have done so could it have been done without in the least +affecting her feelings. The time was not opportune. She was sensitive, +perhaps, in a large degree, and he cared not to trample upon her +sensibility. Far better that he place himself on a plane equal to her +own as regards the use of the English language; otherwise she was more +than his equal. Besides, he was in sore need of friends to assist him in +fulfilling his purpose. + +"No one may ever say that you are not quite right," he said jovially. +"If they do, you may call on me and I'll see to it that justice is +done." + +He smiled and she could not refrain from smiling. + +"I forgive ye," she said, "because ye are a lonely bachelor, an' I don't +want ye ter feel bad. Ye look so lonesome." + +"Thank you. It is very lonely down at my cabin just now, though I surely +will become accustomed to this quiet life soon. Then all loneliness will +disappear, I presume. Just think of a fellow being away out here by his +lonesome self all day and all night, without a human soul to vent his +wrath upon or to have a quiet conversation with, and your old brindle +cow won't come down that way any more." + +She blushed, the crimson covering her face making her appear the more +beautiful, if such was possible. The flickering sunlight played on her +face as she replied, "She mout a-come agin fer all ye know sometime." + +"If she does, I hope she'll get entirely lost deep down in the +woodland." + +She turned sharply toward him. + +"What fer?" + +"So you may take longer to look for her, and upon discovering your +inability to locate her, may request the newcomer to aid you in the +search." + +She was studiously silent for a moment, her feet still swinging to and +fro underneath the porch. "I know these woods better'n you." + +"But we are to suppose that the hour is very late and you are quite +afraid to go into the woodland for fear some wild beast will catch you." + +Her merry laughter rang over the mountain. + +"Would ye help me agin?" she asked. + +"Every time." + +Again she sat silent. + +"Old brindle mout git out agin and she mout git lost. Whut's ther book +ye brought me?" + +"A story of the Dark Ages." + +"Whut's that?" + +"What?" + +"Ther Dark Ages." + +"Oh, that's a time away back yonder before you were born." + +"Hit was putty dark in them days, wasn't it?" + +Wade's face flushed perceptibly, but he smiled. + +"You cannot be so very much younger than myself," he said. + +"I don't know how old ye are, but I know I'm old 'nough ter go ter town +alone, an' can bring the cows home when Tom's not here." + +"Who is Tom?" + +"My only brother. Ye seed him t'other night when ye come with me ter +fetch the old brindle cow home, didn't ye?" + +"I saw someone on horse back coming up the road." + +"Did _he_ see ye?" She bent over and looked straight into Wade's eyes. + +"I tried to keep him from doing so. I stepped behind a sheltering bush +while he passed, not that I particularly cared for his seeing _me_, but +I felt for your safety. You had told me that your father must not see +you with me, therefore I was in hiding for you, not for myself at all." + +"Ye needn't," she replied warmly. "It's fer yourself I'm lookin' out. I +can take care of me. The next time ye can, jest keep on in ther middle +of ther road ef ye think yer hidin' fer me. Ye hain't, no, ye hain't." + +Again Wade thoroughly misunderstood. "Let us keep peace," he said +tenderly, "because you are my nearest neighbor now, and I'm a most +neighborly fellow. I came over to-day because I believe neighbors ought +to be friendly." + +"Is that all?" she asked, a wild and troubled expression in her dark +eyes. "No, not all, not quite all," he answered thoughtfully. "Had there +not been an attraction here----" + +"Whut's 'attraction'?" she interrupted shyly. + +"Something to bring a fellow." She could not seem to understand. + +"Your hoss could a-done that." + +Wade laughed outright. The silvery notes touched deep down into the +girl's very heart and soul, and she laughed a joyous laugh. + +"I mean there is something on the other end to attract, to cause a +fellow to have a desire to go. For instance, a magnetic power attracts +other things, other bits of steel directly to it----" + +"Whut's magnetic power?" she asked, interrupting. + +"Haven't you seen a lodestone or a bit of steel in the shape of a +horseshoe that will pick up a needle of its own power?" + +"I can do that. Is it a sign that I'm magnetic?" + +"Sure. You are the power of attraction just now." + +"Aw," she ejaculated, looking shyly at him, "I don't know whut you mean +yet." + +"I'll bring a stone when I go to the village again and teach you +something of the power of magnetism." + +"Ye needn't. I know all about that. Al Thompson said onct that I was so +powerful a magnetic that he jest couldn't keep away from me. Now I know +whut he meant." + +"Who is Al Thompson?" asked Wade. + +"Why, don't ye know? He's ther wolf--night-watch jest now." + +"You are talking strange things to me, Nora. I don't know the +wolf--night-watch--at all." The girl placed her finger over her lips. +"Here comes Mam," she said. + +The scrawny figure of Mrs. Judson appeared in the doorway. "Nora," she +said, drawling, "who'd ye say this man was?" + +"His name is Jack. That's all I remember." + +"Wade," said Jack, smiling. + +"That's hit, Mam, Jack Wade. Well, he's ther newcomer, an' our +neighbor, an' he's come over ter make hisself 'quainted with us." + +"Yer welcome, neighbor Wade," said Mrs. Judson. "Whar be ye from?" + +"All the way from New York City." + +"Phew!" whistled Nora, dangling her feet a little more furiously. +"That's ther biggest city whut hit is, haint it?" + +"Well, the largest in the United States, at any rate." + +"Be ye a-goin' ter raise terbacker----" + +"Tobacco, Mam," corrected Nora, with a knowing wink. + +"Whar'd yer l'arn ter be so smart?" asked Mrs. Judson angrily. + +"From Jack here. He's been teachin' me ther smart ways of ther town +folks." + +Jack smiled good-naturedly. He did not intend raising tobacco in great +quantities, he said, as he was here on account of his health, but would +raise some tobacco, just enough to keep him engaged, to keep him out of +deeper mischief. + +"I might have the same fate served out to me as did one over yonder a +few nights back, if I should raise much tobacco." + +For a moment there was a deep silence over the trio. Nora looked quickly +up toward the mountain, while her mother cast her eyes downward and +counted the cracks in the porch floor. + +"Ye mout come through all right," she said finally. + +"I might, and I may conclude to raise a large crop some time. I have +lately purchased the old Redmond farm, but don't intend using it for the +time being. A fellow living a lonely life does not feel greatly like +working much." + +"Ye've got the richest land in ther whole valley," said Mrs. Judson, +"that's sure." + +"I have heard so. I look for great crops off it in the future. Do not +hope to meet the same fate the former owner met with." + +"Not very likely that ye will. I hope not." + +"Thank you." + +Wade, feeling that to prolong his call at this time would be encroaching +on mountain hospitality, excused himself, promising to come again. + +"I'm very sorry," he said, "not to have met your men folks." + +"They mout be here next time you call," said Nora, following him out to +the gate, loath to see him going. "I'll read ther book clean through. +Good-by, Jack." + +"Good-by, Nora." + +There was something attractive in young Jack Wade's bearing that caused +Nora Judson to look long after him as he wended down the road toward his +own cabin. Once he looked back and saw her still standing at the gate, +where he left her. Her hands were clasped before her, she stood erect, +looking neither to the right nor to the left, but straight in front of +her. Jack waved his hand, but she did not return the wave. When he was a +long way off he turned and looked again. She still stood motionless, +gazing out into the far beyond, her dress waving in the gentle wind, her +tresses, wafted by the gentle breezes, falling about her crimson cheeks. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +The cool air of the early morning, blowing down from the mountain, is +refreshing and invigorating to Jack Wade, who is standing in the door of +his cabin leaning against the facing leisurely, taking in with his eye +the broad expanse of the valley before him. + +He inhales deeply of the pure fresh Kentucky morning air, while his +athletic frame quivers in the light of the rising sun. The eastern +horizon was all aglow with the brightness shining through the flitting +snow-white clouds. It was a beautiful picture, so he stood silent, +drinking in the scenery of the surrounding country with great pleasure. +Behind him, unknown to his waiting heart, stood a pure, sweet girl, +gazing out through the deep mist of the morning, as if to penetrate the +very depths to a distance where she might get one glimpse of the single +man who had unconsciously awakened within her soul a new life, a new +hope. A new being sprang up within her, her soul longed for the time +when she could see him and hear his musical voice speaking to her inner +life and vibrating to the deepest depths of her quivering young heart. + +Wade thought of her often, but only as a newborn, unopened bud. He +thought of her oftener than he felt he should, but he couldn't help +that. Still, a flush of feeling came into his heart when he did think of +her. What was it? What was this dark-eyed daughter of a tobacco planter +to him that he should quit his pondering when the memory of her crossed +his mind or when her crimson face rose like a vision before his eyes? +She must be regarded as secondary. Other matters claimed his attention +first, and should receive strict and careful consideration. But he could +not resist. Temptation, ah, temptation! thou art the power which +overcomes strong man. Wade threw the saddle on his horse, strapped his +rifle on the saddle, and rode up the road toward the climbing sun, +toward the towering mountain, intending to take a few hours in hunting, +and casting over the views on the other side. When he reached Peter +Judson's cabin he hesitated. "The attraction, the hoss, hit brung him." + +Old Peter was stringing some new wire along the outer fence and did not +notice Wade's approach; if he had noticed him he did not let on. + +"Busy this morning, neighbor," said Wade, pulling up. Old Peter turned +abruptly, spat out a great stream of "terbacker" juice and replied: +"Ther durned old cow gits out too often. Gotter double ther wires. +'Light an' hitch, won't ye?" + +Wade would, as he wished to become better acquainted with his nearest +neighbor. He had called before, he said, but had found Mr. Judson gone +out on business, and he was glad to find him at home on this beautiful +morning. While Wade talked with Old Peter Judson, he could feel the +power of those piercing dark eyes as they penetrated the window pane +behind him. The vision was again before him. The bewitching smile, the +great rows of pearly white teeth, the dimples in either cheek, he saw, +though she sat somewhere in the dark recesses of that little old cabin. +But this did not deter him. He spoke of the great prospect for another +crop, while the old man leaned against a fence post and occasionally +spit a stream of dark red tobacco juice. + +Once he took deliberate aim at a young chick and missed him about a half +inch. He would have drowned him had he hit the mark. + +"Ye haint got chickens down ter yer shanty?" said the old man +questioningly. + +Wade had a few old hens and a rooster, he said. The hens were not +laying,--they were not the laying sort,--but he hoped to raise a few +chickens along just for his own pleasure, to get diversion from other +duties. He spoke so kindly and firmly that Peter Judson thought he was +going to like him, unless he took to different ways, unless he was +"agin" the poor man, unless he "mout do something terrible." There was a +chance that he was all right and there was a chance that he was all +wrong. The "Wolf, Night-Watch," had discovered things that did not at +all seem right, and until they were proved false or true an opinion +would not be entertained. While one talked with him, there arose a doubt +as to whether the Wolf, Night-Watch, might not be utterly mistaken. That +would be determined later. For the present he was perfectly all right. + +Wade was also making discoveries of which he thought his neighbors knew +nothing. He was in the community, he told Judson, to aid and assist his +neighbors, especially those who showed an inclination to assist him and +a friendliness toward him. He had sufficient funds, he said, to enable +him to go through life easily, and therefore his sole aim was _not_ to +make money, but to regain lost health. Old Peter opened wide his eyes, +making occasional replies. + +Though thoroughly uneducated, Peter Judson was no fool by any means, and +he had a mathematical way of his own to figure out problems which +confronted him in every-day life. He was plain, but staunch, was glad to +know his neighbor, and hoped he would call often. They were immediate +neighbors, he said, and should be friends: Peter even invited Wade to +come back and take dinner, and Wade accepted, pleased with the +opportunity that should lead him into the family of which he desired to +learn more. He wanted to know their home life, their inmost thoughts, +and he therefore gladly accepted the kind invitation to lunch. Wade +turned to go, but some supernatural power impelled him to hesitate, and +that hesitation brought forth her whom he of all people most desired to +see. Nora, seeing that the conversation between her father and the +newcomer was about completed, stepped out, with flushed face and +throbbing heart, to thank him for the book which she said she had read +and enjoyed. + +"I have others," he said. "I shall bring another to you soon." + +"Thank ye. Are ye goin' a-huntin' fer game, er what?" + +"For game." + +"I can show you where ye can git lots of birds." + +"That she kin," said Peter. "I most forgot. Jest take mine an' Tom's +guns an' leave yer rifle here, an' that gal'll show ye how ter hunt in +this kintry. She knows ther haunts o' every bird an' every squirrel in +the mountain." + +This arrangement was very agreeable to Wade, who accepted with beaming +pleasure, leaving his rifle while he took a shotgun, as suggested by +Nora Judson's father. Wade desired to saddle a horse for Nora, but she +protested stoutly, saying that she could throw a saddle on a horse +quicker than he could, which he readily agreed was true. Together and +happily they rode toward the mountain, with light hearts--they were both +young--conversing as freely as if they had been lifelong acquaintances. +Over the rugged mountain side they rode, sometimes down the little +ravines or nitches, sometimes beside the rough boulders, always side by +side, talking, laughing, joking, until they reached a spot where they +were to hitch the horses and traverse farther in on foot. The sweet wild +mountain flowers waving in the breeze nodded their little dew-dipped +golden heads in the light of the summer sun as they passed them by. + +Wade dreamed of their beauty and fragrance as they peeped up from their +rocky beds with a look of entire approval and recognition. He stopped +once to pluck a flower, which he gave to Nora, and which she accepted +blushing. This one simple act carried to her heart, inexperienced as it +was in the ways of the world, greater significance than Wade had meant. +He was so thoroughly unacquainted with the customs of these mountain +people, and didn't know. She was silent for a brief spell,--she was +always very silent when thinking,--then as if impelled by the spirits of +the air she thanked him in her simple, innocent way, while her head +dropped until her chin rested on her bosom. + +"I read your book through," she said, breaking the silence, "and hit--it +has done me so much good." + +"Tell me about it." They had reached an open grassy spot bordered by +thick brush and tall trees. "Sit here while you tell me something from +your heart." + +Wade had not failed to notice that she often corrected herself in speech +at times when she deliberated. + +"And the birds?" she asked, looking toward the blue sky with a far-off +expression. + +"Never mind them,"--hastily. "We shall get all the birds we shall want +to take home later. Now, let us have one good talk together out here in +the open, on the side of this lovely mountain, where none save God shall +see us or hear us, where we can open our hearts to each other." + +She sat down in a manner not unbecoming anywhere, and he sat opposite +her. + +"It must be mighty lonely fer ye all by yerself--yourself," she said. + +"It is, quite, just now; but I shall have company soon." + +She looked up sharply, inquiringly. "When and who?" painfully. + +"Can't just tell when, but sometime in the near future." + +She was still looking at him questioningly. + +"I'm going to have a family on the Redmond farm," he continued; "am +building there now." + +She felt relieved. + +"Haint ye got a sweetheart back yonder in the big city?" she asked. + +He looked into her eyes, but she cunningly evaded the stare. + +"Won't you be my sweetheart?" he asked, smiling. He saw the crimson +creep to her face and she lowered her head. + +"Ye didn't answer my question," she said softly, head still drooping. + +"I have not. I have no sweetheart anywhere. Women never cared for +me"--sorrowfully. + +The little brown poppies waved their heads in wild delight, while the +chirping birds sang songs of rejoicing from the treetops, as they looked +upon this peculiar mountain scene. + +"What did ye come into this country for?" she asked abruptly. + +He smiled. + +"You don't believe me. If I should say I came here to rid the country of +the terrible band of destructive Nightriders, would you believe it?" + +She started violently. + +"Don't say that," she said; "don't ye do it." + +"Why not? If I tell you I am here for my health, you don't believe that. +Why not say something equally as ridiculous?" + +"Nobody believes ye come here for your health, an' everybody might +believe ye had an idea ye could rid the country of Nightriders. They're +ready to believe anything of a newcomer. They think he's a spy, an' they +mout think anything that they take a notion to think. My warnin' to ye +is that ye better not say that, ye better take it back as a joke right +now." + +"You wouldn't tell on me, would you?" + +"Ye better take it back." + +"I won't take anything back," he said firmly, but smiling. + +"Ye frighten me, Jack." + +She spoke with all the tenderness of her heart. + +"I don't mean to do that. I'm very docile, I'm just opening my life to +you because I--I think I like you and----" + +"Ye needn't," she said, blushing. "I know what ye would say. Dad don't +like for the gentlemen to talk to me that away." + +"Dad is far away just now, and if I say I like you, Nora, it is because +I do, and your Dad can know that much if he so desires. I do not mean to +deceive him, nor would I deceive you for all the world and this big +mountain thrown in." He peered down into those great dark eyes, which +met his gaze with unflinching, gleaming admiration. "It's so pleasant +here," he added. + +"Ain't it pleasant in the big city?" she asked doubtfully. + +The outer world now held a certain charm which to her had not been known +before. + +"Not so pleasant as it is here on the mountain side," he replied. +"Listen, Nora. In the city you cannot hear the rippling waters as they +dance down the rocky pathway over the hill to the stream beyond. You +cannot listen to the song of the wild morning bird as he cries out in +his great freedom from his lofty perch in yonder tree top; you cannot +inhale the pure fresh air as it glides gently over the brushy way; you +cannot hear the rustling of the dry leaves as you do here, therefore, it +is not so pleasant in the big city." + +"Ye gets used to that here," she said. + +"You get used to the clanging bells, to the snorting whistles, and to +the dusty, smoky atmosphere in the city, too, but there is still a +difference. There you see people at all hours of the day and night +busily rushing to and fro, this way and that, rushing, pushing, jamming, +nothing more." + +"I think I would like that for a while," she said. + +"No, you wouldn't. Not long. It is not near so pleasant there as it is +here, and by your side." He slipped his arm around her waist. She made +no effort to disengage it. "It's so ple----" + +"What's that?" she said, startled. A rifle shot, followed by a wild +yell, broke the peaceful stillness of the mountain air. She leaned her +head far over and listened. "That's Al Thompson," she cried. "Let's be +a-goin'. When he's that away I don't want to meet him. He's dangerous." +She broke from his grasp and stood erect, listening. + +"I have no fear of Al Thompson, nor any other man," he said, rising. +"Where this arm falls power falls with it. I am monarch of the hill just +now." + +He was dramatic, and she admired his great physique and brave words. + +"Ye don't know Al," she said. "He's been drinkin', an' is not +accountable for his actions, so we'd better be a-gittin'." + +"If you have no confidence in my strength," he said angrily, "we shall +go." + +She felt a little hurt. + +"I didn't mean to," she said slowly, "but I want you to go so's you'll +be safe." + +They started off, but before they cleared the opening that hideous yell +broke the otherwise dead silence, and Al Thompson darted through the +thicket like a madman, brandishing his pistol over his head, and with a +roar of anger, cried out: + +"I've got ye now, durn ye', an' ye'll never see daylight agin. Hit ther +road, gal, while I lay him out like a dog." + +Al was coming nearer and nearer as he spoke. Wade did not flinch, but +stood like a man. Nora stepped in front of him to protect him from the +onslaught, but she was like a twig in the hands of that maddened giant. +He caught her by the shoulder and cast her aside as though she had been +chaff before a strong wind. However, he did not reckon on the powerful +agility of his athletic antagonist, who, before the wild man knew what +had happened, knocked the pistol from his maniacal grasp. One of Wade's +fists then shot out and struck Thompson squarely on the nose. He went +down, grunting under the smart of pain, while Wade stood over him like a +heroic victor, not deigning to strike his enemy while he was down. +Nora's admiration for Jack's daring and skill grew stronger as she saw +him standing there over the prostrate form of his victim, whom he could +have killed had he chosen to do so. + +"What ye goin' ter do with me since you got me down?" asked Al +doggedly, not in the least defiantly. + +"I'm going to let you get up so I can have the great pleasure of +knocking you down again," Wade replied, with flushed face and animated +voice. + +Thompson saw the very streaks of fire as they shot from Jack Wade's +eyes, and he made no effort to rise. He just looked sullenly, first at +Wade, then at the girl. + +"Get up, quick, you coward!" exclaimed Wade warmly. + +"I'm comfortable 'nough here," replied Thompson. "If I get up ye might +keep your word an' lay me out again." + +Jack Wade was not fully acquainted with the mountain laws, the laws as +regarded between man and man, or man and his sworn enemy. No other law +counted for anything with the mountaineers. If any one of those fellows +had got him in the same position, under similar circumstances, they +would not have left enough of him to rise from the earth, in fact, there +would not have been enough of him for his friends to gather up with a +shovel, so utterly thorough would have been the destruction of his +tenement of clay. + +Thompson, seeing that he was safe from further attack, contented +himself by saying, "I'll git ye yet." + +"Come," said Wade, taking Nora by the arm, "let us now be going. Forgive +me for such unseemly conduct in your presence." + +The girl did not seem to understand. Such as she had just seen she had +been accustomed to always, ever since she first remembered anything that +was going on about her. Never before had she heard an apology when one +man knocked another down. + +"Ye couldn't help it," she said. After a few moments silence she +continued, "He'll kill ye shore, ef ye don't keep away from him." + +"No, he won't, Nora. He won't attempt it again. If he does, well--that's +something else. I presume he is a Rider, is he not?" She did not reply. +"Come, Nora," said Wade pleadingly; "don't be reticent. Tell me all you +can, being consistent, just as I have told you everything--all the +contents of my heart to-day." + +She could not resist the appeal. Tears were gathering in her eyes; they +were the first Wade had seen in any eyes for a long time, and his own +heart was touched. She opened her innocent life before him and told him +all she knew. The women folks, however, did not know nearly so much as +they often prided themselves as knowing. She believed he ought to know, +more especially since the incident with Al Thompson, because it would be +a sort of protection to him. He would know what to look for and how to +bear himself. + +"They aint a-goin' ter hurt ye, ef I can help ye," she said, sobbingly. + +He understood her feelings perfectly well, and determined there on the +wild mountainside, in the presence of the rugged hills and within sound +of the running waters, to protect and aid this unopened wild flower of +the mountain so long as he had power to do so, so long as this power +lasted--so long as he had breath in his lungs. + +This vow he faithfully kept. Men do things very often during life for +which they are very sorry, do things which, in more conservative +moments, bring on pangs of regret; but Jack Wade felt not the least +regret because he had knocked down Al Thompson. He did not regret that +act, but a tinge of sorrow and shame ran through his soul as he looked +upon the crimson face of his gentle companion. The advantage he had +taken in her moment of weakness would, no doubt, stand him well in +fulfilling the purpose for which he had quit a life of plenty,--a life +of sociality, and had come to the lonesome hills to live in a cabin all +alone to carry out. The burden of it all was burning his own soul and +gnawing at the very vitals of the life within him. He was a man through +and through, a man who could have gained the topmost heights of the +most elevated, elaborate society, but he had sought instead the quiet +life of the farmer, a life alone in a cabin away toward the hills of +Kentucky, far from civilization. Beside him rode in perfect silence, +broken only by the sound of the horses' feet falling upon the dirt, a +child of the wilds, whose own heart burned her bosom, that heart which +had in an unguarded moment unloaded all that was most sacred to her and +to her own people, all that had been held dear to one who had been +taught in only one way. She felt sorrowful, but that same power which +bound her when Jack Wade was away kept her silent when he was near. The +rocks of the rugged mountain ridge pointed to her as she passed, the +little yellow wild flowers bowed their sweet heads in shame when her +skirts touched them. She would not look at them, their beauty had in a +moment flown. She would not look over the wild mountain scenery; its +picturesqueness had departed. A dead shade rested over everything. She +would not even glance up at the strong man at her side for fear his +powerful gaze might pierce her heart as an arrow shot out from a strong +arm. But why all this sorrow? He knew, he understood, and was silent. He +looked toward her in silent admiration, and his heart smiled, but his +lips moved not. To assure her was his thought, was the only motive of +his heart, but he could wait until a calmer moment. The waters of life +were troubled now, there was a storm upon the quiet sea, whose ruffled, +wind-tossed waves were rolling high, and he must wait. + +Behind them was the very hound of the devil, cursing and swearing +uproariously. Every curse was an avowed vengeance, every breath foretold +the death of someone. The murderous black eyes of the mountain wolf +gazed on, the steel-like paws of the forest lion tore the earth where he +lay, the savage instinct of an untamed Indian of primeval days filled +his blood. The heart of the most ferocious beast was encased within his +bosom, and vengeance, sweet vengeance, was his insistent cry. He rose +from the earth where Jack Wade had laid him with that powerful blow of +his heavy fist, snorted like a hyena, shook his fist tragically after +Wade and Nora, then crouched as a panther when about to spring upon an +unsuspecting victim or an awaiting foe, leaped high into the air, and, +yelling like a Comanche on the war-path, darted like a frightened hare +down the mountain side in the direction whence he came, spitting out +fire and brimstone as he ran. + +"She's mine, mine!" he shouted, "an' ye needn't think she hain't." + +Down the other side of the mountain now rode two beings who seemed +farther apart than before they knew each other, yet whose hearts beat as +one, and who were in reality closer together than any other two human +beings on the great earth. + +When Al Thompson opened his lungs and sent forth that unearthly yell +which vibrated through the forest down in the valley, the girl caught +hold of Wade's arm. She quivered, he felt the emotion playing over her +being, and caught the soft hand in his own. + +"Have no fear whatever," he said reassuringly. "He is drunk. When he +comes out from under the spell once more, he will think nothing of this +affair." + +"Ye don't know him, Jack," she replied. "I warn ye agin', cause----" She +stopped. + +"Because what, child?" he questioned, noting her hesitation. "Speak what +is in your heart." + +"Because," she continued falteringly, "I don't want ye ter get hurt." + +He smiled encouragingly. + +"He won't hurt me, but I'll keep a close watch for your sake. If he +gives me further trouble I'll put him in jail down in the village." + +"Huh! that jail won't hold him; hit ain't never held a----one of these +mountain fellers yet. That won't do; ye must hold him some other way." + +"All right, I'll hold him some way, sure. I want you to feel satisfied +that I am able to do it." + +As they were nearing the house they saw old Peter Judson standing at the +gate awaiting their return. + +"I've enjoyed this trip with you, Jack," she whispered softly. + +"No more than I have enjoyed it with you," he replied feelingly. + +"And ther birds----" + +"Whar's yer game?" shouted Peter as they rode up, both flushing red. +"An' fer the land sake," continued Peter, "what makes ye look so durn +funny 'bout ther eyes an' face? What in ther world's got hold of ye; air +ye sick, gal?" + +She was not very ill, she said. Indeed, she had never felt better +physically, but---- + +The old man was fumbling through the saddle-bags in search of birds or +other game. Wade could not suppress a smile because of the comical +expression upon the face of the disappointed old man. + +"This is ther durndest hunt I ever heerd 'bout in these hills," said +Peter. "A half-day out, an' no game." + +"We haven't fired a gun," replied Wade, "therefore have no game." The +old man looked at Wade, then at his daughter. His disappointed +expression was at once superseded by one of anxiety. Indeed, he looked +very sorrowful. "But ye fired one good shot," he said sternly. "An ef ye +intend ter be foolin', I want ter warn ye ter be a-lookin' out. Fun +shots don't go in this hyar kintry." He appeared to be greatly agitated +now, but when he learned the real circumstances he softened, and his +eyes gave forth a tender expression. "Git down," he said, "chuck is put +nigh ready. I'll put yer hoss up'n feed him, an' we'll have a old time +talk 'bout everything, from ther days o' Goliath till ther days o' +corn-huskin',--'bout which ye know mighty little, I reckon, ef I don't +miss my guess a long way, by lookin' at ye." + +Old Peter refrained from remarking just at this time anything touching +upon the actions of Al Thompson, but many strange and peculiar thoughts +were romping pell-mell through his heavy brain. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +Dining at the home of a farmer was quite a new and novel experience to +Wade, as there was no similarity to dining in a fashionable restaurant +on a fashionable street in a large city. This was an experience in his +life that he often thought of afterward. At one end of the table sat +Peter Judson, to his right sat Mrs. Judson. In one corner of the stuffy +little cabin dining-room sat a gray old cat on its haunches, appearing +in every respect to be quite angry because it had been made to wait +until the second table when it had been accustomed to eating with the +family. Wade watched the cat, for it very often "licked its chops." +Beside him lay Rover, the furry-headed dog, Nora's pet. + +Jack was just as awkward at that table as the girl would have been had +she been sitting down at a table in the greatest hotel in New York City. +His manners and table etiquette were so entirely different that his +actions did not seem at all right or natural. He sat like a boy who has +been allowed to eat at the first table when his father had company. When +Nora asked if he wouldn't take a piece of the "sow's belly," and he +replied, "Thank you, I wouldn't choose any," she still held the dish +before him until he took a slice. He sipped his coffee daintily, as a +girl at an evening tea, holding the cup by the handle, while his little +finger was extended high, and the girl gave him a cup-towel--"so's ther +cup wouldn't burn his fingers" when he was drinking his coffee. He cut +the meat off his chicken bone with his knife and put it into his mouth +with his fork, causing the girl to blush because he was acting so +ridiculous before her Dad and Mam, when she had really expected so much +of him at this crucial time. + +Old Peter would take about half his coffee at one gulp--this was +more natural--making a noise like unto a sawmill when it is thoroughly +busy. Then he would wipe his mouth on his shirt sleeve and take the +coffee off his mustache with a sizzing noise. The climax to this +long-to-be-remembered meal came when Wade put his knife and fork in his +plate and picked up the scraps of bread and chicken bones and put them +carefully alongside the knife and fork. Being unable to understand such +strange conduct, Nora stepped behind Jack and hid her face in a dish +towel. We do not know just what she was doing behind the towel, but +presume she "stole a sweet smile," as her face was very red when she +finally came out of hiding. + +They got through the meal, however, after a great length of time had +elapsed, for they conversed about every thing, crops especially and +folks in the city in general. Tom was off toward the village purchasing +supplies and would not return, likely, until late in the afternoon, so +Wade must content himself with listening to Peter Judson for at least a +half-day. This he did, and he listened with growing interest. The old +man knew of things that had happened away back yonder 'afore the war, +and he knew about things that would happen at some future date. He had +lived through one generation of feuds and thought "thar mout be tough +times ahead fer some folks as he know'd of now, an' they hain't fer +away, nuther," he said meaningly. "Why, jest let me tell you somethin', +Wade," said old Peter, bending over and shaking his finger at the +latter. "Way back yonder somewhar in the eighteens we had some mouty lot +of trouble, that we did. Them was ther days when ther white caps or +somethin' done things, and I hain't fergot it nuther, an' what's more, I +hain't never a-goin ter fergit. I hain't that sort--ther fergit'n kind. +An' ye'll find that out 'afore ye air hyar in this kintry much longer. +Ef a man treats Peter Judson all right, he's a-goin' ter git treated all +right back again. Ef he treats me mean, why, he's gotter look out fer +his head, that's all. I kin remember onct away back yonder--I was on +t'other side then--an' was as peaceful a man as lived, when I was a +plowin' in my field an' up comes a feller as fast as he could ride a +hoss, an' says, sayse: 'Peter Judson, yer gotter git out o' this kintry, +an' that putty quick. Ef yer don't, yer neck'll be stretched.' 'Well, I +won't,' says I, 'not till I git good'n ready, an' ef you ner anybody +else thinks as how they kin make me git out afore I want to, let's see +ther color o' his hair. An' I takes ther lines from my shoulders an' +drops 'em down over ther plow handle an' squares myself, thinkin' maybe +he'd want some of it right then an' thar. But no, what'd he do? He up +an' put spurs to his hoss an' digs out down ther road lip-i-ty-clip, an' +I seed nuthin' o' him no more." + +The old man paused to let out a great stream of tobacco juice. + +Wade threw his left leg over his right knee by way of change, and asked, +"Was there any special reason, Mr. Judson, that this man should have +requested you to leave the country?" + +"None. None 'tall, but I left." + +"Oh, you did?" + +"Yes, siree. I left putty quick after a while. You see, I hain't told +you all of it yet. Them durn fellers come back one night, but I gits +wind of it somehow, an' sends ther family away an' takes everything out +an' puts ther stock in ther pasture,--nuthin's never hid from Peter +Judson,--an' I lays out in ther bushes in a dark spot an' waits +patiently. Long 'bout a little after midnight here they comes, 'bout a +half-dozen strong, an' shot fire into my house an' barns so fast that +afore I know'd what'd happened ther whole business was a flame o' fire. +Seein' as how I couldn't do nuthin' ter save ther things, I jest waited +till they gits through with their cussedness, an' then--what'd ye think? +Afore they know'd what'd struck 'em I sent ther bullets from my +Winchester a-flyin' after them like hot cakes, an' four o' them fell in +their tracks, while ther two got away, an' all their hosses lit out down +ther road, without riders, like lead shot out o' a cannon on ther field +o' war." + +The old man spat out another wad of tobacco and put a fresh plug in his +mouth. There was some hesitation before he spoke again. + +"You take it rather cool," said Wade, after a short silence. + +"Gotter, my boy. Them was terrible times 'round hyar, but ef I +calkerlate right, we air in ther midst o' jest sich another time, right +now." + +Old Peter Judson looked squarely into Wade's eyes, forcing the latter to +turn his gaze. + +"Ye air a young man, Wade," said Judson, "an' I want ter give ye some +advice, fust class advice, an' yer better take it, too. When ye dig a +hole fer some other feller, be shore ye dig it so deep he cain't get +out'n hit, an' then"--Peter was emphatic--"be shore ye don't git into +that hole yerself. Hit's a durn sight easier, Wade, ter start somethin' +than hit is ter stop it after ye onct git it started. D'ye mind that +now?" + +"I believe I understand," said Wade, with a far-away look on his +countenance. + +"I'll tell ye agin, young man, that yer Uncle Peter Judson's been +through ther fires o' hell 'round this hyar mountain, an' he knows what +he's talkin' 'bout. Afore mornin' ye'll see that cabin down yonder all +aflames, lickin' ther very sky in an effort ter eat up ther stars." + +"What, mine, do you mean?" + +"Ther same, boy. Why, what makes yer look so durn funny? Hit's ther +solid truth, God knows, Jack Wade, yer own cabin'll be ashes afore +another sun rises over ther mountain. Ye have made a enemy out'n Al +Thompson, an' nuthin' this side o' hell could stop him from a-killin' +ye, ef ye don't git him fust. Ye needn't git upon yer high spirits an' +think yer kin stop it, fer ye cain't. A fawty-hoss power gatlin'-gun +woudn't stop them savages to-night, so jest be easy an' take it natural +like, an' ye won't feel so bad when hit's all over. Me an' Tom'll go +down with ye after awhile an' help ye put everything out in ther field, +an' move ther stock ter a place o' safety, so's ter fool them fiends +that much--" + +"I won't submit to it," interrupted Wade angrily. "I'll kill the man who +tries to burn my property." + +"That's what ye kin do, Wade, but ye must wait till some other time. I'd +ruther take that rifle thar an' blow yer brains out'n yer head whar ye +stand than ter let ye go down thar an' git killed without any show +'tall. Don't up an' git mad now. Ye'll see that old Peter Judson knows +what he's talkin' 'bout. I've been in this kintry too long fer to not +know. Ye've made a enemy out o' Al Thompson, an' he's a chip off'n ther +old block, only his Daddy is worse nur him. He's worse nur the old devil +hisself, an' they won't rest till they're torn the earth up around ther +mountain, an' dug a hole deep 'nough ter put a dozen good men in." + +Old Peter paused again, while Wade looked down toward the earth with a +troubled expression on his face. + +"What's the matter with the law in this country?" asked Wade, although +he knew that law and order were unknown to these people. + +"Ther hain't any law," replied Peter. "Ther law tried ter git out here +onct, an' I seed old Jim Thompson kill two officers. I seed it with my +own eyes, an' Tom a-comin' yonder saw him shoot one down in his tracks. +They want no more in town what'd tackle comin' after him, an' he's +still hyar a-doin' business in ther same old way." + +Jack Wade was considerably puzzled. Here was an old farmer, who he had +calculated to shoot through the heart some day, now giving him advice +which he thought would save his life--at least would save him much +trouble. Here was a man who had just related to him that the Riders had +at one time swooped down on him and destroyed his home and all else he +had possessed save what he took out to the field; here was a man that +rumor said was one of the very leaders of a band of lawless desperadoes +who sought the lives of all good citizens of the community, now telling +him of a man whose deeds were enough to turn the heart of a less brave +man into a channel of terrible fear. This man was now trying to save his +life, would himself rather put a bullet into his brain than see others +do it or know that others had done so. That was friendship bordering on +love. What kind of a man is he? + +The mysteries of the hill deepen, the mysteries of the valley broaden. +The closer he seems to have got to his desired end the further is he +away from it. His plans seem crumbling to decay, his strong heart was +bound in utter weakness. One glance from the firm, dark eyes of Nora +Judson took all the manhood out of his soul. One touch of her finger +tips made weak his stalwart frame. Now he must stand idle, in meek +submission, while his sworn enemies burned his cabin and filled the air +with their curses because they could not find the object of their +vengeance and tear him to pieces bit by bit. + +Jack Wade cursed under his breath and bit his lips till the blood +flowed, as he looked down toward his lonesome little cabin home, which +he had come to look upon as a true friend. His heart bounded in his +bosom, his brow corrugated, his eyes danced and gleamed fire as he swore +a second vengeance upon the perpetrators of this intended foul, heinous +crime. The black demons of hell darted before his maddened stare, +laughing joyously, dancing happily, because of his great discomfiture. +He gripped the butt of his pistol, while his eyes lighted on a rifle, +which he snatched up, then started off in lone defense of his own +property. Nora, who had been watching him constantly, laid her hand upon +his shoulder. The touch was like magic upon his wearied soul. + +"Don't, Jack," she whispered softly, impressively. "Dad is quite right. +Ye are sure to git killed ef ye go down there to-night." + +Nora saw that Wade was filled with emotional indignity. For a moment he +was about to shake loose from her grasp, but he felt her grip on his arm +tighten. + +"For my sake, Jack." + +He turned and looked into her eyes. The light of real love shone from +them, and a thrill ran through his being. + +"For your sake I'd better go," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Mounting his horse, Al Thompson rode rapidly along the ridge of the +mountain, with hot breath of hate steaming from his extended nostrils. +His soul cried out loudly for revenge, and he meant to fulfill its +desires though he brought all his friends into the quarrel. He meant to +murder the man who so grossly insulted him and belittled him in the +presence of the girl who was more to him than his own life, more to him +now than she had ever been before. As the road grew less rugged he +stiffened his pace, beating his horse over the flanks with his hat, +until he finally broke into a dead run. On he went with the breath of +fury still flying from his dilated nostrils, infuriated the more by the +low hanging limbs, until he reached the stream at the base of the +mountain, crossed over and turned up the main road, putting his horse to +his best, when he came in sight of a cabin, the very sight of which +seemed to lend strength to his tired body. He let out a terrible yell +and fired his pistol into the air to attract the inmates of the cabin, +who, upon hearing him and the pistol shots, rushed out feeling that a +terrible calamity was about to befall them. When they appeared in the +doorway Thompson cried out in an old, familiar way: "Git ready. Ther old +rock on ther mountain top--midnight. The cap'n says be thar shore." + +"Who's ther victim?" cried one. + +"Ther newcomer," answered Thompson. + +"What?" + +"Shore." + +Thompson was off again in a dead run before more questions could be +asked. These cabineers had heard the call from the same voice before, +and in the same manner, therefore did not hesitate to prepare. Thompson +reached another cabin, and went through the same maneuver, and a third, +the resultant effect being the same in every instance. He was quite +satisfied. His lying tongue had done its work and the outcome did not +worry him in the least. His heart and soul joined in crying for revenge, +and it should come at any cost to others. + +When the appointed hour of the night had come on, he, waiting until the +last moment, would ride up, driving right through the waiting crowd, +yell like a Comanche, and they would follow willingly. His plans were +working well, his lying heart was satisfied. He snarled like a wolf +which had found a piece of fresh meat. + +The night was dark. Heavy black clouds obscured the vision of the stars. +A clouded canopy overhung the entire world, the fierce lightning flashed +and shook its fiery tints over the sleeping mountain. The thunder peals +burst forth in loud report, the echo resounding down deep into the quiet +valley below. Save for the flashing lightning and the pealing thunder +all else was quiet. What a fearful night for a fearful deed! What a +night for the use of a black-hearted scoundrel! What a time for deeds +born of a charred heart! + +Jack Wade made no effort to sleep; he did not retire to the bunk in the +little room with Tom Judson. Old Peter did not wish to retire. It was in +his nature to see the alpha and omega of such deeds, he wanted to see it +all. Nora could not close her eyes in sleep, although prevailed upon to +do so. No, Jack Wade's own burdened heart pervaded the quiet atmosphere +about Peter Judson's home, and no one cared to seek rest. Even good old +dog Rover discovered in the funeral-like few about him that something +was about to go wrong, and went about from one to the other whining, +looking questioningly into their faces. Wade walked up and down, to and +fro, like a lion in a cage or a madman in confinement, so intense was +his anger because he couldn't prevent that which Judson had predicted +was sure to follow. He believed now that Peter Judson spoke the truth, +there was no reason, as he could figure, for his speaking anything else. +He believed Judson had warned him from his heart, because he wished to +save his life. Why should this old reprobate of a murderer desire that +he should live at all? He would not have warned other men, for he had +done so at his own peril. The consequences even now might lead to his +own death. The old man, who had been closely scrutinizing Wade's +troubled face, opened his mouth to speak. + +"Ye needn't take it so hard, boy," he said. "Ye kin build another cabin +like that in a few days, after ye git ther logs an' lumber out, that ye +kin, shore." + +As old Peter was speaking there came even then, down from toward the +mountain way, the wild yell of the Comanche. + +"Listen," said Peter, blowing out his light. "Thar ye air now. Don't say +a word nur make any noise. Let 'em go on by, a-thinkin' we air asleep, +an' ye'll see a putty sight soon. The fiends! the fiends! They're bent +on a-killin' of ye right now, Wade, an' gloatin' in their hearts cause +ye air mout nigh dead, so they think." + +The well-known clatter of the horses feet came nearer and nearer. Old +Peter stepped up close to Wade and laid his hand on his shoulder +reassuringly. On the other side of him Wade felt the warm breath of old +Peter's daughter, as she hovered close to him. She was consoling him in +her kind, simple way, and he thanked God in his heart that it was so. +Thus they stood, waiting, while the lightning flashed fiercer and the +thunder peals grew louder. + +Slowly the rain began to descend. Then suddenly, in that terrible moment +of anxious quietude, there burst forth through the midnight darkness a +faint ray of light which soon appeared a flame of fire, leaping and +dancing exultantly. + +"Thar ye air," exclaimed Judson. "Yer cabin'll be in ashes afore +mornin', jest as I told ye awhile ago." + +Silently the watchers watched, knowing full well what was in the heart +of Jack Wade. It was useless to try to hold conversation during that +awful period of suspense. Jack watched his little cabin burn, while the +flames, cracking and roaring, seemed to touch his own heart and set it +aflame also. The growing vengeance softened his feelings. + +"Let her burn," he said, "but one soul shall burn in hell for this +night's work." + +"Mor'n one," whispered Tom Judson. + +The significance of his remarks, however, was lost to Jack Wade, who +thought only of avenging himself now. No thought for anyone entered his +heart. + +For some time not a word was spoken, only watching; silently watching. +The flames reached high into the air, lighting up the landscape back +toward the mountain and over in the valley, although the cabin was a +small one. The yells of those revengeful men rent the midnight air while +all that was dear to Jack Wade was fast going down to ashes and utter +ruin. + +The horses' feet beat a heavy clattering retreat back up the road. When +they passed Peter Judson's cabin Wade slipped noiselessly out into the +darkness, struck the road and started, on foot, rapidly after the fast +retreating horsemen. He knew it would have been folly under ordinary +circumstances to have tried to catch up with them, but he figured they +would soon strike the roughest part of the hill where horses could not +travel fast, and he might by traveling rapidly catch up with them before +they left the mountain road. + +Old Peter Judson did not realize what the young man contemplated until +he was too far gone. When he came to a realization of the truth he swore +a blue streak and started out in search of "ther durn fool," who, for +some unknown reason, he had come to like. + +Jack Wade could hear the clattering noise of the horses as they rushed +over the rocky way. Fainter and fainter the noise grew until he could +hear it no more. Undismayed, however, he trudged on, in the hope of soon +finding some trace of those he pursued. The heavy raindrops pelted down +upon him, soaking his clothes until their weight became a burden to his +tired and weary limbs. On he went, regardless of distance, picking his +way by the light of an occasional flash of lightning, which made it more +necessary to grope his way when the lightning failed to give the needed +light, until when the gray streaks of early dawn appeared in the eastern +horizon he found himself many miles away from his burned cabin. Yet he +had discovered no trace of the perpetrators of the foul deed, whom he +had followed for almost half of the night. + +Water soaked, tired and worn in body and mind, he remembered that he had +not slept for twenty-four hours, nor had he eaten anything, save a +lunch, for nearly as long. Weak and sore of foot, he sat down on a +little hillock and leaned his head back against a boulder to get a +little much needed rest before attempting to start on his return journey +homeward. As he sat thus the dawn grew brighter, the streaks of light in +the eastern sky painting a few clouds a beautiful red. The mountain +scenery was still wrapped in silent mystery. Soon birds began their +chirping songs from their abode in the thickets, and all wild life was +beginning to stir. Dew-dipped grasses began to raise their heads to the +breaking light in obedience to the will of day, while the great heavy +overhanging clouds were fast dispersing, giving way to the power of the +coming dawn. + +The strenuousness of the day and night before had weakened Wade's system +until, when he closed his eyes against the growing beauty about him, he +fell fast asleep; but his weary, laden brain kept moving on. Before him, +in vision, the mighty lightning flashed, the great torrents of rain fell +and engulfed him. Suddenly there burst before his darkened vision a +licking flame of fire, from out of the midst of which came one bearing a +long-bladed knife in either hand. He was snarling like a wolf and +dancing jubilantly over his intended victim. The vision grew until the +knives were being brandished over his head, and he knew that it would be +only a moment until they should descend and his own heart would be cut +in twain. He seemed powerless to prevent. The sight was so fearful that +he became sick at heart and fainted away. His head bumped against a +boulder, and he awoke with a start. + +When he opened his eyes he saw standing over him in reality Al Thompson, +with hand poised high in the air, ready to descend. In that hand was a +long-bladed knife, sickening to behold. + +"Damn ye," said Thompson, between closely clamped teeth, "ye escaped me +somehow last night, but ye won't do it now. Ye mont as well say yer +prayers, an' say 'em quick, fer ye air a goner. I'll tear yer heart out +an' hang it on a pole an' take it back to ther gal." + +Thompson raised himself a little higher until he stood on the tips of +his toes, in order that the force of his blow might be felt more +heavily. The knife started on its descending mission of murder. + +Wade shuddered, he felt it was his last moment on earth. The +carelessness of falling to sleep bad given his enemy a great advantage. +But no, Fate was to save him. A rifle shot rang out over the mountain +stillness, the knife dropped to the ground, the band that had held it +fell limp to one side. With a cursing snarl and a howl of intense pain +Thompson quickly picked up the knife with his left hand and was about to +plunge it into the drowsy form of Jack Wade. Just at this juncture old +Peter Judson burst through the undergrowth and, in a commanding voice, +cried out: "Drap that knife, Al Thompson, or ye air a dead man right +thar!" + +Thompson, looking into the barrel of Peter's rifle, concluded that +chances were against him, and allowed the knife to fall harmless at +Wade's feet. + +"Ye'll not be after committin' murder on the mountain to-day," said +Judson. + +"So ye're helpin' ther newcomer, Judson, air ye?" asked Thompson +sullenly. + +"No, durn ye," replied Peter. "I'm helpin' you, ye fool. I'm seein' fair +play, too. Ye hain't satisfied ter burn up all a feller's cabin, an' +everything else ye kin git at, but ye want ter commit a dogged, dirty +murder right hyar afore my eyes. Ye git, now, Thompson, an' git quick." + +Knowing that it would gain him nothing to argue with Judson, Thompson +moved off, holding his crippled hand with the good one. Sending back a +parting shot, he darted out of sight. + +"Ye'll regret that act, Peter Judson," he said. Giving each of them a +sullen look, he was gone like a flash. + +"Ther dirty wolf!" exclaimed Peter, shaking his fist after the +retreating form of Thompson. Turning to Wade he asked: "What made ye +take sich a fool notion as this, boy?" + +Jack replied evasively. "You have saved me, Judson," he said, "and I +reckon my life is in your hands. Do as you like. By my own foolishness I +might have died twice, yea, thrice, in the last twenty-four hours, but +you have saved me." + +"What one man does for another is not to be talked about," said Peter. +"Jest ye don't be sich a fool any more. By yer foolishness, as ye call +it, ye have got me in ther same boat 'long side o' ye. I 'low thar'll be +no rest 'bout this hyar mountain till both of us is in our graves, fer +I've waked up ther devil from ther deep o' hell this day shore." + +"I'm sorry to have caused you this trouble," said Wade regretfully. "It +may have been better had that snarling wolf----" + +"Stop!" interrupted Peter. "Trouble o' this matter is ther kind I like +best. Let 'em tackle us when Tom's got his shootin' irons on an' his +shootin' eye open; he'll pick 'em off as fast as they kin come. Ye mind +what I'm a-tellin' ye, Wade. It's jest as true as what I told ye last +night, only they'll be a little more keerful 'bout ther time they take +ter burn Peter Judson's shanty. Did ye know ye air ten miles away from +home?" + +Jack did not know this. + +"Well, ye air, an' we'd better be a-gettin' back. Somebody'll bring some +hosses out ter meet us so's we won't have ter walk very far a-goin' +back." + +"Must have been a long chase for one like you," said Jack. + +"Well," replied Judson, "hit ain't so fer fer me as hit is fer you, I'll +tell ye that, Wade. I kin stand more walkin' right now than any feller +in this kintry. What'n ther world made ye go ter sleep when ye was on +sich a jolt as this?" + +Wade turned sharply on Peter. How did he know? + +"Don't ax ther question," said Judson, judging of what was on Wade's +mind. "I saw ye a long time afore ye woke up." + +They heard the sound of approaching horses farther down the road, and in +a few seconds Tom and Nora Judson hove into view with the mounts. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Jack Wade's new cabin was built much stronger and a little more +elaborately than the old one. It was not at all like the old one, nor +was it put up in quite the same location. It was built some twenty-five +feet eastward and faced the mountain, while the old one had faced just +the opposite. Besides, the new cabin had a small porch attached, while +the front of the old one was plain. Wade sat upon this little gallery, +pondering over the events of the past, much bewildered in mind on +account of the slow progress he had made toward his desired end, toward +the fulfillment of his avowed designs. He was unable to reason out many +things mysterious, one being the deep friendship for him that had sprung +up in the heart of that wicked old man, Peter Judson. It may have been, +he thought, because of the fact that old Jim Thompson had ridden hastily +up to Peter's cabin late one day and yelled to Peter that "they was now +enemies forever, an' ther war would last 'twixt 'em till one or t'other +was dead with their boots on," and Peter needed consolation and +friendship. Old Peter, however, had replied to Jim Thompson: + +"Maybe ye want a little of it right now. Ef yer do, jest git down off o' +yer hoss an' I'll give ye all ye want, ye beggar." + +Angered to the toes, old Jim struck his horse with the spurs and rode +rapidly away toward the mountain, firing back at Peter as he went. He +would, no doubt, have shot Peter in his own yard, had he not seen Tom +sitting in the cabin door with a Winchester lying across his arms, and +he knew only too well that the aim of the slender youth was true. He +knew well that, as old Peter had said, Tom would pick him off his saddle +before he could even fire at Peter. Discretion, therefore, being the +better part of valor, he bridled his anger and rode away without +deigning to make reply to old Peter's challenge, cursing and snorting, +breathing hot revenge against his enemies. + +Wade knew of these circumstances; he knew that his own folly had brought +about these conditions, and it was his human duty to aid the Judsons all +he could, because they had been nothing but friends to him. The gleaming +dark eyes of that girl of the wilds were ever before him, he could not +rid himself of their presence, try as he would. They were an everlasting +companion, and he was not altogether sorry that it was so, for in his +most lonely hours he looked out into the dreamy space and saw them, and +they made him feel less lonely. He had spent much time with Nora, +sometimes at her father's cabin, sometimes hunting over the mountain, +sometimes angling in the brook, and sometimes up the country road +between the two cabins. The old brindle cow had not quit getting under +the wire,--at any rate, she got out very often, and always headed down +the road, never toward the mountain. Probably she was a lazy cow and did +not like the idea of a steep climb up the hill, though the grass was +sweeter up that way. However that may be, she always went _down_ the +road. Constant companionship had drawn Jack and Nora closer together, +and Wade was teaching her in such a kind way that she took no offense +whatever. He brought to her new books to read, which she devoured +eagerly as a child learning its letters. + +When she was not busy with some domestic duties, Nora was out in some +nook remote from the cabin devouring the contents of a book. She was an +apt scholar and learned rapidly. She would say "ye" only when speaking +in great haste; other times she said "you." In one book that she read +the heroine was a country girl like herself, and would say "hit" and +"ye" like she did, and she discovered in reading that she was not +properly educated as to the use of language, therefore she applied +herself the harder. She took special delight in this book, and read it +the second time, being greatly pleased with the sweet little character, +the country girl, who, before the novel closed, went off to college in +the big city and, after a few years study, came home refined in manners +and neat in dress. This same country girl was ever afterward her own +model, because she became gentle and kind, and married the millionaire's +son, to the satisfaction of all concerned. Jack Wade was in her mind's +eye the very hero himself. She thought of him as a big-hearted, +generously kind boy, whose sole hope was to benefit someone else, though +he might be personally affected by so doing. + +She thought of him as a great wise man who was spending his life out in +the mountains for her special benefit. She thought of him by day, and +when night came on, the hideous night of darkness, when her awakened +soul longed for light, she thought of him. When her body passed into the +oblivion of peaceful slumber she dreamed of him, of the man who had done +so much toward enlightening her mind and soul, who had brought her out +of the darkness and set her upon a high pinnacle of knowledge, where +light shone in on her benighted being and she saw. He had spoken to her +of God, a great God, Maker of the mighty universe, as no one had ever +before spoken to her. The light shone brighter from his eyes as he +talked to her about things of which she had hitherto known nothing. The +song of the little bird in the tree top, the little wild bird, sounded +sweeter than it was wont in times past. Their notes came clearer and had +a new meaning. Her darkened soul opened wide its closed windows and the +light came streaming in until she saw through different eyes. Her +interest in the wild, golden-headed flowers that grew in great profusion +along the ridge of the mountain grew day by day, until she felt she must +plant a garden of her own somewhere near the cabin, so that she could go +out and work among the flowers and talk with them. Her very soul yearned +for something new, something it had not felt before. + +She was kind and tender toward her big brown dog, in which she now saw a +true friend. They had always been friends in a way, but that way had +been to kick him and speak gruffly to him. Those things she did no more. +She did not kick the old brindle cow in the flanks and say: "Saw thar, +durn ye! or ye'll git yer head knock off," but the rather she pushed her +gently and spoke kindly to her. "Be very careful, Brindle, don't step on +my toes or turn the milk over, I am not going to hurt you." So the old +brindle cow saw and knew and quit blinking her eyes when Nora was near. +She formerly began blinking when she saw the girl coming out of the +house with the milk pails, because she had grown to expect a crack over +the solid portion of her head before the milking process began. The +consequence of a life of continued abuses was that she had formed a +great habit of blinking both eyes when near one of the feminine gender. +Not so any more. The old cow naturally wondered at the strange, sweet +change, her own life was made the more peaceful because no one set the +dog to biting her heels every time she poked her head around the corner +of the barn, and she did not kick out her "hind" leg every time the dog +came near, because the dog didn't bite her any more. They were good +friends now. A cow has good sense, and can do a terrible sight of +thinking when it comes to the way things are going on about milking +time. Her teats were not whacked with a big stick on a cold winter day +any more because she did not feel like standing in one position so long, +and peace reigned within her heart. + +Nora's touch became more gentle and she squeezed the lacteal fluid from +the bovine with more consideration, all the while humming sweet songs +softly to herself, and the old cow heard and knew. She heard Nora say +"father" when she spoke to old Peter. Only on rare occasions would she +spurt out in the same old way with "Dad," and then be sorry because she +had allowed herself to become agitated to such an extent. Everyone noted +the great change, but none dared to speak, lest they should disturb +her--except Tom, who chided kindly occasionally. They all knew and +understood perfectly, and the knowledge was kept secretly in their own +bosoms. + +Jack Wade thought of all these things too, as he sat on his own little +gallery looking wistfully toward the big mountain, with heart bowed in +submission to the will of fate. Since his old cabin was burned there had +come a great change in his own life. His desires had changed, his +purposes seemed different, but he fought it all out courageously. +Murderous design was still lodged in his heart. He longed to commit that +deed, which done and within itself is a power to bring a man's soul to +the deepest depths of degradation and sorrow, to the very brink of hell. +His certain knowledge that the savage Al Thompson was only waiting an +opportunity to drive to the hilt the knife that would pierce his heart, +or from ambush send a bullet from a forty-four Winchester crashing +through his brain, weighed upon his mind. These thoughts did not deter +him nor move him one inch from his original motive, which, if life was +spared him, would be fulfilled to the letter. As Wade sat gazing out +through the bright sunlight the big brown dog, Nora's pet, came gliding +silently through the gateway and paced up before him. He looked around +quickly as the dog; wagging his long, hairy tail, stepped upon the +porch. + +"What omen have you brought to me this fine day, Rover?" he said, +speaking to the dog, all the while rubbing his hand over the shaggy +head. "What could have caused you to visit me at this hour?" + +The dog just continued to wag his tail and lick the big hands that +petted him. Rover had grown to like the big strong young man who was so +often with his mistress, and thought perhaps a call at this time would +not be out of place. + +"This country is terribly agitated just now. Rover," said Wade. "You +must watch your mistress closely, and should you think any harm is +likely to befall her, you must come and tell me quick." + +The dog wagged his tail, seeming to understand fully what Wade was +saying. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Up near the mountain no one ever spoke to another concerning anything +that happened. Not a word ever escaped the lips of those sturdy farmers. +If somebody was killed, that somebody was buried by his own people, and +the wailing and gnashing of teeth was confined chiefly to the unhappy +kin-folk. There were none to console them, no one condoled with them, +they grieved in solitude. + +In the village it was quite different, though even there no one dared to +speak openly against an individual or a "click" or "clan." The fact that +someone had been murdered by the terrible "Black ghosts of the night," +or that the settlers had been terrified by the fearful, hideous howlings +of the ravagers of peace, concerned everyone in the village, and old +women talked of it over the fence, old men jabbered about it as they sat +on dry-goods boxes, whittling on the soft pine boxes or squirting great +streams of tobacco juice between their two first fingers, watching it +until it struck the earth some six feet away or flowed gently down the +boot leg of someone standing dangerously near. One old man, fearless on +account of his many years in the country, did say once that "them damn +Riders ought all to be hung by the neck until they were dead." When he +had said that he dropped his head to spit, and when he raised it again +he was alone, every man near him having slipped quietly away, leaving +him to his own way of thinking. + +Men gathered together up the valley way, but they talked farm products +straight and "wunk" at each other in a knowing way. There was one farm +upon which an immense tobacco crop had sprung up, and the eyes of every +farmer in the community were cast toward it. Not in many years had so +many men passed that way. Not in many days had there been so many +clandestine meetings over the country, mostly around and beyond the +mountain. What was it all about? It surely meant ill for someone, but +for whom? That was the great question. + +Jack Wade had gone to visit the city, Nora Judson was busy with her +domestic duties, and Tom had gone on a jaunt over the hill, while the +warehouse operator remarked to his companion that he had been appointed +special officer, that the regular officers were afraid of their shadows, +and would not move a peg, and the Nightriders were gathering again and +destruction was imminent. It had been mere chance that had put him next +to the business that bid fair to bring much sport, and he was going with +his trusty rifle and faithful horse to see if he couldn't arrest a Rider +before morning. As he was in sore need of a companion, he invited his +friend to accompany him. The matter looked so feasible, and as the +Riders had given both of them so much trouble, he consented to go along +as an assistant to the appointed officer. Of what was to happen he +received perfect knowledge from the warehouse man. + +Wade also was deeply interested. A certain barn with its contents of +high-priced tobacco was to be burned by two lone Nightriders, and this +fact--that there would be only two--was hailed with great pleasure, for +the chances would not only be equal, but the advantage was decidedly +with the officers, as they were cognizant of the raid contemplated, +while the Riders were totally in the dark regarding their knowledge or +identity. + +The arrangement was that they should meet at a certain place and proceed +out of Guthrie to a given point some distance out and some distance +still on the other side of the mountain. Wade knew the exact spot where +they were to locate themselves in hiding until the Nightriders should +pass, and he also knew what their intentions were after that. His great +longing to learn something more of the terrible Nightriders, and of the +manner in which it was expected they would be handled on this occasion, +caused him to make a hurried trip back to his own cabin to make hasty +arrangements for a long ride through the darkness of night. When his +clock tolled the hour nine he began that tedious lonesome ride down the +valley. Uppermost in his mind was the movements and actions of the +Nightriders, who had become active again and who were threatening with +utter destruction the entire country, composed of twenty-two counties of +the richest soil in Kentucky and Tennessee. Notices had been posted +everywhere, giving warning to the open raisers, stating that no man +should attempt to sell tobacco openly, that he who was not for the +association was against it. One was found on Wade's own gatepost, and he +gave it deep, thoughtful consideration. He had fully intended raising a +very large crop of tobacco the coming season, and he intended doing it +openly, unless his mind should be changed in the meantime. + +Wade rode on, putting his horse to a trot, then as time went by, to a +gallop. Had it not been for the brightly shining little stars the night +would have been utter darkness, but the twinkling little heavenly bodies +lighted the way sufficiently well to allow of seeing and keeping the +beaten road. Thoughts concerning happenings of the past were flitting +rapidly through Wade's brain, tumbling one over the other in rapid +succession, in their great hurry to get through, while he traveled on, +unmindful of the awful darkness that encompassed him or of the +blood-curdling deeds which would be committed on that memorable night. +At last, tired and sore, he reached the vicinity of the barn soon to be +burned and the vicinity of a community where murder, foul to some and +gladsome to the hearts of others, would soon be committed. + +Jack Wade had learned through his experiences of the past to be very +cautious on all occasions, more especially on occasions like the present +one, therefore he sought out a quiet dark spot in the brush and waited +silently to see what should happen. The distance he had traveled brought +him very late at the goal, so he was compelled to wait not long before +he saw sights enough to weaken the heart of the strongest man. + +The little stars twinkled on from their orbits in the sky, the cuckoo +sang from a remote distance, the woodland animals scampered over their +runs, making the dry leaves crack as they flurried on. Suddenly a faint +light arose over the woodland, and grew until it lighted up the whole +country around the anxious watcher. It became so very light where he was +that he was compelled to recede deeper into the underbrush. The great +flame grew brighter and higher, leaping heavenward at every bound, +making a terrible, cracking noise. Wade's heart beat heavily against his +bosom, but he watched on. Not a great way off he heard the cracking of +the dry twigs. It was much heavier than the noise made by scampering +animals, and he knew instantly that the two officers were near. He +continued to keep silent, listening breathlessly to every sound. Soon +there came to his listening ears the heavy sound or clatter of rapidly +retreating horses. The riders passed his hiding-place and on they flew, +pushing their horses to full speed over the rough trail. Then, "Oh, +God!" In the next moment there rang out upon the midnight stillness the +terrible "crack!" of a death-dealing rifle, and in response a boy went +down to the earth heavily. Some mother's idol received a wound that +would take him hurriedly into eternity. His horse sped on, riderless. +Another "crack!" from those rifles and the other horse was killed in his +tracks, falling near the dying lad, while his rider, untouched, unhurt, +darted off into the thick sheltering brush and was seen no more. + +Those who had fired the shots that caused death and sorrow, weeping and +wailing, listened not to the wailing of the dying boy, heard not his +pitiful moaning, nor his distressed cry for assistance, but thinking of +themselves dashed off through the brush, to safety, in an opposite +direction. They had _got a Rider_, and were evidently well satisfied +with their night's work. _Fiends_, may the tortures of hell be theirs! + +Jack Wade, born with a love for his fellow-man, did hear and heed that +dying wail, and slowly led his own good steed out from his hiding-place +and on to the groaning one. He bent over him and looked into his +contorted face with a heavy, sorrowful heart. He was not dead, but +dying. + +"Friend or foe," whispered the youth, as Wade appeared over him. + +"Friend," replied Wade. + +"Then you didn't shoot me?" + +"No. Thank God, I didn't shoot you, lad." Tears were gathering in Wade's +eyes. + +"I'm glad you didn't, stranger," said the lad. "I'm Fred Conover, and +I'm dying now. I can feel the cold, clammy sweat of death gathering over +me, my eyes are blinded until all is dark. I know that the death call +has been sounded to me, and I am going, going, but I am dying for a good +cause." He gasped his words now. "Stranger," he whispered, softly, "you +may not be a Rider--you ought to be. You may not be in open revolt +against us--you should not be. Listen, stranger, listen well to my last +words on earth, that you may carry them to the heart of every man in +this community, to the heart of every well-thinking man in the world, +that all the world may know we are right. My father was once a +well-to-do, honest, faithful farmer, but the trusts and combined wealth +put his nose to the grind-stone. I must speak quick. But for them we +could have lived nicely and comfortable. They took everything and +forced--stranger, help the Riders, for in doing so you are helping the +poor people, the struggling millions. You are helping the widow and +orphans, you are helping those who must die of starvation unless the +fight is kept up a few more years. Tell them I died willingly for them, +that my heart is with them in my dying moments; that I shall carry the +burden to God; that I do not hesitate, have no fear, and tell my +father----" + +The boy threw his head back, raised his breast, then fell to the earth +once more. Jack Wade raised the lad's head and placed it gently upon his +own limb, that he might remember he died there. The small bottle of +whiskey which Wade took out from town was still in his pocket and he +gave the boy of it to drink. + +"I thought that was my last moment," said the boy, after sipping the +whiskey. "I feel quite relieved now. They are mean, stranger," he +continued, with a catching breath. "Those fellows will raise tobacco for +the trusts, and _must_ be handled severely. I do not regret my action, I +do not regret that my last act was to apply the torch to yon burning +building. No, I do not." + +Here was an opportunity, Wade thought, to learn something of interest, +so he placed his lips close to the dying lad's ear and asked if he knew +John Redmond before he was killed. + +"I knew him well," he replied, gasping for breath, "and he was the +grandest----" + +The head fell limp, the boy breathed his last. Fred Conover was _dead_. + +Immediately the surroundings took on a death-chamber appearance. Wade +removed his limb from beneath the dead boy's head and laid him gently +upon the cold, damp earth. Beside him was the carcass of the big black +horse which fell dead at the same time the boy went down. They were both +dead. The pall grew heavier. Wade raised himself, looked at the horse, +then into the deathly pale face of the boy, raising his head slowly +until he looked into the heavens, then said: + +"O God, Thou great God, Thou hast, through thy mercy, saved me from this +awful deed." + +He let his head drop again. + +"That was a dog of a deed for an officer to commit," he said mentally. +"It was nothing but cold-blooded murder. Why did he not show himself and +make an effort to arrest, rather than do murder in this fashion, the +dirty coward!" said Wade, with a wave of his head. "You are free just +now, but freedom shall be taken from you for this night's ghastly work, +for this foul deed which has taken from earth all that was dear to a +good mother and father. If you hang"--Wade shook his fist toward the +brush tragically--"the shame and sorrow shall fall upon your own head +and heart." + +Throwing his coat over the dead form, Wade drew it to one side and +departed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Wade was very excited in thought and action as he rode out through the +darkness of the night to go to the home of Fred Conover's father. He had +covered the body with his own toga, and he felt the necessity for it as +he split the cool night air in his great haste to get the news to the +old father, whom he would surely find waiting anxiously to learn what +success the boy had met with. Unmindful of any danger to himself, though +the country was well stirred up, he raced on, looking neither to his +right nor to his left, but kept his sight straight ahead and his +thoughts far beyond. He shook his head gravely as he pondered over the +events that had transpired, were transpiring, and would transpire in the +future. He knew now much more of the conditions confronting the poor +farmers of this part of the world, knew of the terrible struggle into +which they had entered for the mere maintenance of their own immediate +families, knew more of the feelings existing among them, and wondered no +longer that they had taken such desperate means to relieve themselves of +the yoke of bondage which had been placed upon their freedom, to tie +them to the heart-eating trusts, which were dogging out their lives, +eating to the marrow of their bones. + +Wade had now reached the rise of the hill. In front of him, a little way +beyond, was a dense thicket through which he must go. He went on, +regarding not the deeper gathering gloom nor the many dangers +accompanying. As he neared the thicket he was suddenly confronted by a +night prowler, who commanded him to halt. This he did immediately, +without hesitation, while he was in his present state of mind, not +desiring an encounter with anyone. + +"Git down, quick," said the voice of one who held the bridle at the +horse's head with one hand, while a pistol held by the other hand was +pointed directly at Wade's breast. + +For a moment Wade was on the point of reaching for his own pistol and +fighting it out, but as his hand started back he heard the command: "Ye +needn't do that. Ef ye make a move I'll blow yer brains out." + +Wade now reached the conclusion that he was being held up by a +highwayman, and the best thing for him to do would be to comply with his +request, for he knew that these fellows in this country, highwayman or +Nightrider, were as desperate in character as the most blackened +criminal the world holds. He got quietly down. + +"Now," said the captor, "turn yer back to me." + +Reluctantly Wade did this very thing. He had some little misgivings in +doing so, for he might be shot in the back. + +Not so. The midnight marauder merely took his pistols from his pockets, +placed them in the saddle-bags and got quietly upon the horse. Turning +to Wade, who stood disconsolate, he said: "I'll return yer hoss, +stranger, an' thank ye fer the use o' him, till I can git one o' my +own." Then he galloped off as though nothing had taken place, never +looking back again. + +Awe-struck and indignant, Wade stood beneath the shining stars for one +moment just as he had been left, gazing intently after the fast fleeing +horse and his mysterious rider, then resumed his journey on foot. He +reproached himself that he was a great "mummy," that he had come into +this country on an errand of revenge and had placed himself more than a +half dozen times right between the jaws of his enemies, between the +snapping jaws of death. He figured that fate must have thrown a strong +guard around his life to save him for a special purpose. All these +thoughts came into his mind as he trudged weary and footsore across the +rugged country, picking his way as best he could under the +circumstances. + +Instead of trying to make his way direct to Conover's farm, he turned in +the direction of his own home, and at some time just before daybreak +pulled up at Peter Judson's gate, where he "helloed" until old Peter, +with rifle in hand, showed himself at the door and cried: + +"Who air ye, that wants ter bother a feller at sich a time o' ther +mornin'?" + +"Wade," came the reply. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Peter. "Come on in, boy. What'n thunder brings ye at +sich a hour as this?" + +"Didn't you see the fire?" returned Wade. + +"Sure. Did ye think I didn't know it would be?" + +"I didn't know," replied Wade, "but I thought I'd tell you that Fred +Conover has been killed, and----" + +"Thunder, ye say!" interrupted Peter. "Thunder, ye say!" he repeated. +"What do yer mean by tellin' me that, Wade; is it really true?" + +"It is really true, Judson, and I thought I'd come by and get Tom to go +over to Conover's with me to give the news." + +"Ye needn't, Wade; they'll have it long afore ye kin git thar with it, +an' besides ye cain't git Tom fer anything fer awhile. He's been shot +through ther leg." + +"What!" + +"It's true, too, Wade. I told ye what'd happen when we went after them +Thompsons. It's war ter ther death 'twixt us, shore. Tom met old Jim +an' 'nuther feller over ther hill ter-day, an' ther fun commenced right. +They both opened fire on Tom, but he didn't budge a step till he'd +throwed old Jim flat o' his back, an' he'd a-throwed t'other feller, +too, ef it hadn't been fer that sneakin' Al, who slipped through ther +woods like a snake a-crawlin' on his belly, an' let in on him, an' shot +him through ther leg. Seein' he was shot an' bleedin' putty bad, Tom lit +out fer home, 'thout seein' what'd happened after the smoke o' battle +cleared away. Me an' the good gal, hyar, a-hearin' of ther shootin', +pitched out over ther hill with our Winchesters, jest ter git a little +o' ther fun while hit was a-goin' on, an' we seed Tom a-comin' an' +a-fightin' back, with his shot leg a-hangin' loose over the hoss. Me an' +Nory give a Comanche yell what they knowed, an' when them durn fellers +heered us they turned heels an' took out t'other way 'bout as fast as ye +ever seed anybody git over ther mountain in yer life." + +Peter Judson told of these circumstances as unconcernedly as if it had +been play. It was real fun to him. The noise of battle suited him much +better than the quiet of peace. Turning to Wade, he asked, "What did ye +do with yer hoss?" + +"Someone held me up and took him from me," Wade replied. + +"Ye don't know these people yet, Wade," said Peter, after a moment of +silence. "Don't ye know that hit was Fred's pard what tuck yer hoss? An' +he's done spread ther news over ther whole kintry by now, an' long afore +ye got out o' ther woods. Ye needn't bother 'bout goin' over. Ther old +man'll be so wild when he hears o' this that he'll want ter kill every +feller he meets. Ther committees what sent them two boys out on that job +oughter have their own necks strung up ter a tree, that's shore. That's +what oughter happen ter them. Now, yer needn't worry, Wade. Ye'll git +yer hoss back all right. I'm shore o' that, an' ther shootin' irons, +too. Seems like hit ain't no use fer ye ter have any shootin' irons, +'cause ye never have used 'em, yet, have ye?" + +"Doesn't look as though I have any great use for them." + +"No, hit don't, Jack. But ye mout use 'em sometime. Better have 'em +along anyhow, when ye meet a Thompson, 'cause ye air shore ter need 'em +then. Now, Wade, I reckon ye hadn't better git angry 'cause that boy +borried yer hoss. Hit won't do ye any good, an' hit mout do ye harm. +Ye'll git him back agin. Tom won't be sore long, an' when he gits well +'nough so's he kin git 'bout a little, ye kin listen out fer ther crack +o' rifles in good shape. Come on in an' we'll git somethin' ter eat, +after hit gits good'n daylight. I want ter have 'nuther talk with ye, +sorter face ter face like, afore ye leave me agin. This durn kintry is +stirred up from ther top o' ther hill ter ther bottom o' ther creek, +an' then some on t'other side, an' ye'll see some hot flames, one after +t'other, an' hear o' how hell is raised, an' see many fellers turn up +their heels afore long, ef I don't miss my guess putty bad. Them trust +fellers is determined ter drive us all out o' ther kintry, or see us go +ter ther graves as poor as Job's turkey--however poor that was--an' they +do say that they was mouty poor; but, by gad, they'll have a tough time +a-doin' of it! Ther bother of a feud with old Jim Thompson an' his mean +gang hain't nuthin' long side o' what's a-goin' ter happen 'bout hyar +soon. Ther worst o' ther whole thing, Wade, is that ther air so many in +ther association what'll raise terbacker fer ther trusts. Them's ther +fellers as is ther hardest ter go up agin, an' ther ones as oughter have +ther neck broken. They'll sell ther stuff fer three an' six cents a +pound when they mout as well git eighteen an' twenty fer ther same +terbacker; but no, they'd ruther go ahead agin everybody an' agin +therselves, an' sell cheap. They'll have a time a-sellin' that terbacker +this year fer that price. We cain't raise terbacker fer five cents a +pound an' come out even, let alone makin' a livin' out'n it. Ther durn +fools!" + +Old Peter Judson generally warmed up when talking over the tobacco +situation, and he cared but little to whom he was talking, nor who heard +him, when he used rough language. His greatest expression was "Ther durn +fool!" and when he exclaimed in that fashion he was generally done with +that subject or person. + +"They'll git ther fill of it all right this season," Peter continued, +after a pause, wherein he caught a second breath, "they'll git plenty of +it. Why, let me tell ye, Wade, what happened one time, an' I'm a-tellin' +ye fer yer own good. I don't want ye ter git yourself inter that deep +hole what I told ye 'bout one day, ther time I told ye a feller mout git +inter his own hole, remember?" Jack did remember. "Well," continued +Peter, "there was a feller onct,--an' he's over t'other side yet,--by +ther name o' Mike Donovan. Mike is a old Irish settler, 'bout ther fust +ter come hyar. Ye've heerd o' him, no doubt. Well, he tuck a hot Irish +notion in his thick head ter run things his own way 'bout hyar, but ther +balance o' ther farmers wouldn't have it that way 'tall. They tried +their level best ter git old Mike to join the association, but he got +hard-headed an' said he'd be durned ef he joined any sich association o' +fools as was scattered 'bout this valley; that he'd raise as much +terbacker as he wanted ter hisself accordin' to his own feelin's in +that, an' he'd sell hit ter who he wanted, an' fer what he wanted ter. +Now, Wade, ye know well 'nough that ther farmers cain't go agin sich +hard-headedness as that an' win out, 'course ye do. Any fool'd know +that, so they begged him ter quit his foolishness an' join ther +association like a good feller, an' git more fer his trouble o' raisin' +terbacker; but ye know how a Irisher is on that point. They won't give +in ter nobody fer nuthin'; so he wouldn't come in. Well, in the course +o' time he done like he said he would do, an' raised a big crop o' +terbacker. He had a notion that he'd fool everybody 'round hyar, an' he +did try it. A committee was 'pinted ter call on him once more an' ax him +fer to quit, but he wouldn't. He went on an' raised ther terbacker an' +made open threats that he'd take it ter town on a certain day, in +wagons. He tried it all right. Ther committee, ter give him 'nuther +chance, called on him agin, an' tried ter git him ter keep his terbacker +in his barns fer a little while longer, but he just perlitely told ther +committee that they could go ter 'h,' followed by an 'e' two 'els.' Now, +Wade, that feller loaded nine wagons with good terbacker an' started off +to Hopkinsville with it." + +Peter Judson paused again for new breath. + +"Did he get there with it?" asked Wade interestedly. + +"Git thar, did ye say, Wade, git thar! Ye durn fool, d'ye think them +farmers'd have their plans spoiled by that old hot-headed Irisher? No, +he didn't git thar with it. Do ye mind ther old-fashioned zigzag rail +fences in some parts o' this kintry?" + +Wade remembered having seen them. + +"Well, at a certain turn in ther road whar ther fence is built out o' +'em, a powerful gang o' good farmers met Mike Donovan an' his fine train +o' terbacker, an' axed him ef he wouldn't please be so kind an' turn +back with it an' store it in his barns a little while longer. 'No,' said +Mike, 'I won't,' an' he whipped his horses an' said, 'Git up!' But them +horses couldn't budge a inch. 'Turn back,' said ther leader. Mike jest +sot thar an' never moved. All ther time men was a-gittin' them rails off +that old rail fence an' a-pilin' 'em up in ther road. Still ther +stubborn Mike Donovan wouldn't turn back. They kivered him with a +forty-four Winchester, while one wagonload o' terbacker was piled on +ther rails. 'Will ye turn back, Mike?' they asked. Mike said never a +word. 'Nuther load was piled on ther rails, an' a row o' rails on top o' +that, an' they axed Mike agin ter turn back. He jest stood thar +a-sullen. Every load o' terbacker was piled on ther rails, one row o' +rails an' one load o' terbacker, an' still old Mike wouldn't give in. +Well, ye kin guess ther rest, Wade, cain't ye? No? Well, that was one o' +ther puttiest fires I ever seed, an' ther air was so full o' pure +terbacker smoke that some o' them told me they didn't have ter smoke +their pipes fer three or four days after that fire. All they had to do +was to git out on their porch, raise their head a little an' draw in a +good long breath, then spit her out, an' they was done smoking fer a +while. Mike Donovan--did ye ax what 'bout him, ther durn fool? Course he +turned back, but he didn't have no money, nur any terbacker ter store in +his barns." + +Daylight was approaching and Peter, looking in the direction of Jack +Wade's cabin, exclaimed, "Thar's yer hoss now, Wade." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Is the longing of the human soul but a delusion? Does it catch the +fragrance of immortality, as the little honeybee catches the fragrance +of the dew-dipped mountain flowers, and reach out with a longing far +beyond human ken? + +Jack Wade sighed as he sat out on his little porch gazing through the +sunlight to the eastward. Far away, yet not so far, loomed the outline +of the Cumberland, as a shadow rising out of the mist, towering above +the lesser mountains nearer. All round him in his own community men were +making silent and cautious preparation for some unknown deed. Beyond the +hills, where the agitation was greatest, men were making preparation for +terrible destruction. Orders were being sent hurriedly through the +country, the courier being unknown and unseen. + +Wade knew that the messenger of destruction, if not death, was "the +Wolf, Night-Watch," the very person whom he had long been looking for +and feeling for, but to no avail, for he had found him not. The very men +whom he would have at one time killed on sight, had he known then as +much as he did now, were those who had on more than one occasion saved +him from death, men whom he now believed had wound themselves so +thoroughly about his heart as to cause him to love rather than hate +them. Through his mind ran thoughts of things that had been done so long +as to be almost forgotten by others, but they clung to his memory as a +reminder of what men would do again. In his heart was nothing but hatred +for the man who shot Fred Conover to death, and he would far rather put +a bullet through his heart than any other man he knew, even Al Thompson. +Thompson, he knew, was always somewhere about looking for him, that he +might put a bullet into his brain or a knife into his heart. + +Wade was to the Judsons a seemingly fast friend, and therefore must be +firmly against the Thompsons. Regarded in this light, it was only +necessary to meet one of the avowed enemy and someone would go out of +this world of trouble. + +Time passes swiftly over our heads. It won't wait for any human being. +The pace of humanity is entirely too slow for old Father Time, who only +looks once as he glides swiftly on. Things can't all happen in a day. +Sometimes one could look out through the darkened gloom and see away in +the distance the brightness of a flame leaping high and sending great +sparks heavenward. Some poor deluded human being, some weak human being, +was no doubt losing all of his earthly possessions--his tobacco crop. +Sometimes one could listen out over the star-lit earth, when all else +slumbered peacefully in the very arms of nature, and catch the faint +report of a rifle shot; and had he been nearer to the scene of the +conflict could perhaps have heard the groan of a dying soul as it made +its last farewell gasp and flitted into eternity. Such is life where +strife and turmoil are uppermost in the human heart and mind. + +Wade looked back for one moment over the vast expanse of the past and +saw all; then he closed his eyes and looked into the future. It was all +blank; his mind kept to the present. For one moment he was gazing into +the dark eyes of Nora Judson, the next into the translucent waters of +the little brook on the banks of which he had sat whiling away many +happy hours beside the girl who was such an ardent student of nature, +and in whom he had never dreamed there could have been so much hidden +beauty and real wisdom. Slowly had she ascended the ladder of knowledge, +through his personal instructions and the books he gave her, until she +stood on the last round on the tips of her toes, reaching far out into +the unknown in eagerness to grasp what she believed lurked there. She +was fit to be a queen, to be the companion of the highest man in the +land. + +On the other hand, Wade had gained no actual knowledge nor wisdom. He +had, however, gained a knowledge of nature which could not have been +impressed upon him through the mere reading of books. He had gained a +knowledge of the great necessity of higher education; he had gained a +certain knowledge of how desperate men would struggle for what they +believed was rightly their own, how they would lay down their lives for +the principles which they thought were just and true. Such knowledge is +well gained, and assists the educated and enlightened to a higher plane +of equal thought. The person who never reads has no knowledge of what is +going on in the outside world, and we dare to say that the person who +reads only knows nothing of the great struggle going on in the hearts of +the down-trodden farmers whose lives have been made burdensome by the +great evil, the greatest of all other evils, the powerful trusts, trusts +which hold at the throat of every farmer a great, sharp knife, one so +sharp that it is useless to move forward or backward lest life become +extinct. The farmer does not stand alone in the path of this terrible +evil, though he has taken the brunt of the battle in an effort to +unburden all humanity of the awful weight of this heavy yoke, bearing +down on the poor of the entire country with such crushing force that the +time has come when one can hardly maintain an existence so strong is the +yoke and so securely has it been fastened around the necks of humanity +everywhere. + +Jack Wade thought of all this, thought of all that had happened. Above +Tom Judson was lying in bed with a bullet hole through the fleshy part +of his left leg just below the thigh. Across the brook old Jim Thompson +was lying in bed writhing in agony because of a bullet hole through his +right shoulder. This was the result of conditions brought about by the +everlasting drudgery of mankind. + +In both cases the patients were rapidly mending, the danger point long +since having been passed, and each was cursing the other and swearing +revenge. Wade sat with heart and head bowed, therefore did not know of +the approach of Rover, his good friend, until he felt his furry head rub +against his hand. + +"Good friend," he said, looking into the eyes of the great brown dog, +"when you come to see me in this manner I always look for disastrous +results. What can it be now, old friend? Is your mistress well, or has a +calamity befallen her? Is her brother worse, or what has happened?" + +The dog wagged his tail in a friendly fashion. Suddenly he looked toward +the road and barked. Wade glanced hastily in the direction indicated by +the dog's head and there, grazing leisurely beside the fence, was the +old brindle cow, the cow that had in times past brought him in close +touch with the once wild flower of the valley. A spark of joy leaped +into his sorrowful heart, for he knew that the mistress of the valley +would soon come in search of the cow, and he would be happy then. With +eyes cast in the direction of Peter Judson's home, he still sat +thinking, just thinking, unconsciously smoothing the hairy head of the +good old dog Rover, who seemed perfectly satisfied to sit on his +haunches and listen to the tinkling of the cowbells as the cows munched +grass lower down in the valley. Roundabout the little wild birds were +singing sweetly in their freedom, their joyous notes swelling through +the gathering gloom. No thought of trouble was in their hearts, no +sorrowful gleam came from their eyes. All was bright sunshine in their +lives. What if some poor wanderer was going to be murdered that night? +What if some luckless farmer should have his home burned from around him +or his horded tobacco and corn destroyed? What if some child or its +mother should wail out their sorrowful notes of discomfort and grief +before another day's sun shall have risen? Those things are nothing to +the lonesome little bird, which would continue its silent slumber +through the awful din of fire-fraught flame, or through the loud reports +of many rifles, or the yelling of the infuriated Riders as they rode +hastily through the midnight darkness on to do the terrible deed and +bring suffering to many unsuspecting victims. Those things were nothing +to them; they sang on gleefully. But the harmony of their song soon +died away, for there came through the stillness of the moment the soft +sweet tones of Nora Judson's voice as she wended slowly down the road in +search of old Brindle. Rover flopped his ears and wagged his tail, while +a gladsome whine emanated from his throat. + +Wade, followed closely by Rover, went out to the road to meet Nora. Jack +smiled as he extended his hand; she smiled also, then laughed heartily, +the echo resounding down through the woodland and back to the hills. + +"Are you going to assist me to drive the cow home?" she asked sweetly. + +"Provided you don't get in a hurry," replied Jack. + +She didn't blush as she used to on occasions of this same nature, though +she was a little shy. Her face was as beautiful as a newborn rose, and +her hair was done up like a schoolgirl's is done when she expects to +have company; her skirt was not of the tattered and worn variety that +she wore when old Brindle made her first escape, and her slippers were +tan--those Jack had brought as a present. They fitted her trim foot +nicely. Her ankles were covered with lisle thread hose, not homespun +cotton, like she wore when Wade first saw her. He now stepped to her +side, and together they rounded up old Brindle, and soon had her headed +homeward. + +When Wade looked into Nora's smiling face he knew that he was an ardent +lover, and he fully concluded he would never do one thing to offend her. + +She looked into his face, her own beaming with joy. + +"I'm never in a hurry to leave you, Jack." + +"Thank you. Will it always be just so, Nora?" + +"Always--that is, so long as both of us are alive, but----" + +"But what? Don't hesitate, speak out." + +"But times are fearful now. Tom will be out in another day or two, and +then----" + +"And then?" repeated Wade, although he felt it was not necessary for her +to finish the sentence. + +"And then," she continued, "something terrible may happen. Tom fumes all +the time, cursing the luck that threw him so long idle, when he could +have been doing so much. And then," she said again, looking tenderly at +him, "your life is in imminent danger. You should keep a close watch at +all times on Al Thompson. He hates you, and is only waiting for an +opportunity to kill you. Will you keep a close watch, Jack?" + +"I shall keep a close watch. Not that I have any fears of death, or that +Thompson will kill me, but for your sake." + +"For my sake, Jack? For my sake only?" + +"For your sake only. Let me tell you, little girl, I have but one hope +this side of heaven, but one longing. The hope is for you, the longing +is for your happiness. Don't you know that you have transformed my life? +Once I was a raging lion, to-day I am meek and lowly. The only ray of +hope within me was transplanted by your own life. I have studied you +from the beginning of your growth until you began to bud, and on until +you were a full-grown flower; how, then, can I help but be interested in +you? You have torn from my heart most evil designs." + +"Were there ever such designs there, Jack?" + +"Once, yes. None now. I have much to tell you at some more opportune +time; not now." + +"If I may venture to say it, I am very glad to have been an assistance +to you, because you have been as a shining light to my dark pathway from +the first time we met. Dear old Brindle," she said. + +"Dear old Brindle," repeated Wade softly. "And now we have old Brindle +home again, and we must part, though not forever, I hope. Tomorrow, if +all goes well through the night, I should like to take you over to the +brook fishing. Will you go?" + +"We might be endangering our lives to go over there just at this time. +That is Thompson's territory, don't you know?" + +"Yes, I know; but what's the use to go through life full of fears for +what we might meet? The obstacles which we naturally encounter are so +nearly insurmountable as to discourage us, so therefore let us not look +forward to those which _might_ confront us." + +"I shall admit that the natural ones are many, but caution is what has +been taught me. We should be grateful to God that they are not more +numerous." + +"Will you accompany me, then?" + +"I shall, if all goes well to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +There is a certain charm about the hills that will in time take away +from one that feeling of loneliness which always exists in the heart of +one who has not been long about them. This charm turns the rugged hills +into things of rare beauty, the misty valley into a dream, and peace and +contentment finally take hold upon a life that before had been nothing +but sorrow and grief. + +Jack Wade was no longer lonesome in his lonely little cabin in the +foothills, he no longer felt the pangs of that sadness which had +hitherto shot over him to cause him to feel like giving up his plans and +returning to civilization. There were many reasons for this peace and +contentment. The greatest of them was that old Peter Judson and his +entire family had done so much to aid and assist him and to drive away +all loneliness, and for this cause they had endeared themselves to him. +It was now a pleasure to Wade to rise very early in the morning and +glance out through the breaking day toward the Cumberland, and watch the +mountain grow through the dewy mist until she was plain to view. It was +even a pleasure to him to watch her disappear with the departing day. + +So when he bade Nora good-night he went down to his own cabin with a +light heart, still followed by the good brown dog, Rover, which had +taken up with him so firmly that he went home only when Nora blew the +horn. He always obeyed this call, and trotted off gayly, but when the +morning light appeared he was back again lying on Wade's little porch as +comfortably as he desired to be. Wade was very glad of the dog's +friendship, for he helped to dissolve the terrible gloom that sometimes +gathered over him. He took great delight in talking to the dog while he +was preparing his meals, and never forgot to put in an extra allowance +for Rover. + +"Now, Rover," he said, "you like your eggs better raw, perhaps, and no +doubt, if you have been getting them at all, you have had to take them +that way; but this is quite a different hotel, and you shall have to +cultivate a taste for fried eggs, as that is the way I like them best, +and that is certainly the easiest and quickest way to get them +prepared." + +Rover whined and wagged his shaggy tail. + +"In this country, Rover, old boy," continued Wade, "where every fellow +is looking about for someone he can kill, a fellow, if he would eat at +all, must get his lunch the quickest way he can; so you must not be +angry if you must eat fried eggs." + +Rover gave a low bark, seeming to understand fully. He watched the +preparation of the meal with pleasure. When Jack moved to another part +of the room Rover trotted quickly over there, as though he feared some +portion of the work would be lost to him. When Wade stood over the +little stove Rover was there looking longingly up at him. + +"Now," said Wade, "you don't like coffee, Rover, and there is where you +are lucky. You are wise not to drink it. I ought not to drink coffee, +but how could I stand the strain of all that I look for should I not +take some stimulant? I don't drink whisky, Rover--that is wrong for a +fellow to do; I don't chew tobacco nor smoke a pipe, so what? I must +drink coffee. Some men say that man is so constituted that his system +calls for a stimulant; but I don't believe that, Rover, do you? Now here +you are, old friend, a nice slice of good bread made by your dear +mistress, a piece of bacon, and a whole egg fried. My, what a lunch for +an old dog which has not been used to anything but kicks and curses all +his life!" + +Rover barked gleefully while Jack put a tin platter on the floor and +placed the food into it, and they ate in silence. + +After the meal was over Jack went out to sit awhile on his little porch, +while Rover dropped down at his feet. They had not been comfortably +seated very long when Rover rose to a sitting position and looked in the +direction of his home. Wade knew from his anxious look that he had heard +something. In another second the long, loud blast from Nora's horn came +trembling through the night air and reached their ears. + +"What's that for, old dog?" Jack spoke to Rover. Then the sound came +again, and Rover bolted off without further ceremony. + +Wade arose and stood for a moment listening. It was peculiar that the +dog should be called at night unless he was badly needed. As he +listened, Wade heard two distinct rifle shots coming from the direction +of Peter Judson's home. "Something up," he said, gathering his own rifle +and starting out, meaning to go up and learn what the trouble could be. +Instead of taking the road, Wade went out through his own pasture and +through Judson's field. The old man had taught him caution, and he knew +how to use it. He went on as hurriedly as possible until he reached +Judson's horse-lot, then he began to peer about. He could see Peter +moving about in front of the light at the house, but nothing strange +appeared to be taking place. Then he saw old Peter come to the door and +look eagerly toward the road. + +"What's the trouble?" asked Wade, from behind. + +"I thought that'd bring ye, Jack," said Peter, turning quickly, "and ye +fooled me, too. Ye air gittin' 'long all right, now, boy. Well, they's +a-goin' ter be so much fun ter-night that hit jest looked like I +couldn't help axin' ye fer ther fust time ter jine us. Ye see, Tom +a-bein' a little sore, hit'll make ther road seem a little lonely to me, +an' ef ye want ter see ther fun ye kin take Tom's big black an' come +'long with me. Have yer got yer little shootin' irons 'long?" + +"Nothing save my rifle," said Jack wonderingly. + +"Well, ye kin use Tom's, an' they air as good as ye kin find in this +kintry. Ye hain't a-feered, air ye?" + +"I fear nothing," said Wade; "but I'd like to know what's up. I don't +want to run into anything that won't be good for me." + +"Go with him, Jack," said Nora. "You'll see the fun, sure." + +"Yes," said Peter. "Ther hosses air ready, an' I'll tell ye all 'bout it +while we go 'long. We have ter travel nearly to the Tennessee line afore +midnight, so les' hurry." + +Wade buckled the pistols on, mounted the prancing horse, and started out +somewhat dubious as to the fate of himself. He had learned to trust old +Peter fully, however, and there could possibly be nothing to fear from +him. Beside, Nora had told him to go along, and there could absolutely +be nothing harmful to him in going. + +"Ye see, Jack," explained Peter as they rode rapidly toward the big +mountain, "I told ye t'other day 'bout them durn scamps what'd jine ther +association an' then do all they could ter throw it down. Them's ther +biggest scoundrels what we have ter deal against. They're the snakes in +the grass, an' we don't ever know jest whar they air at. We cain't put +our fingers on 'em when we want 'em, but ever now an' agin' somebody +runs agin' 'em, an' that's what's up ter-night. We air a-goin' ter flog +one o' them fellers now. Ye see that dark-lookin' spot up ther road? +Well, them is 'bout fifteen horsemen. Now git that cap out'n Tom's +saddle-bags an' draw hit down over yer head,--hit'll fit yer,--an' don't +say 'nuther word from now till I ax yer to. When we git yonder that +black bunch'll move out an' nobody'll say anything. Jest keep a-goin', +an' ef ye git lost from me, say nothin', but keep a-goin', and I'll find +ye. I won't have ter show ye any more after ter-night, I 'low. Now keep +quiet." + +Old Peter almost whispered the last sentence. Jack Wade understood and +kept quiet, as he had been instructed. When they rode into the black +mass one wild yell from those strong-lunged farmers rent the air, and +everybody for miles around knew that some farmer somewhere was nearing +the danger line. The swift ride through the cool night air was +exhilarating, and the excitement, being entirely new to Wade, was just +to his liking. He had been unconsciously drawn into a midnight raid with +those hated Nightriders. When it dawned upon his mind that he was +actually taking part in a great midnight raid, and would soon witness +cruel treatment from the hands of those he was aiding and abetting, a +cold chill ran over his frame. Still, the punishment was going to be +meted out to one who, in an extreme moment, was about to do a thing +which would affect every man, woman, and child in the whole country. He +would sell his tobacco for a price which would not permit a living, and +he must stop or suffer the consequence. + +They rode until it seemed to Wade that the foaming horses must drop from +sheer exhaustion. That was impossible. They were used to such trips, and +could no doubt keep up the pace for many hours. Supreme quiet reigned. +There was no sound save that made by the clatter of many horses' feet +striking the soft dirt. When they passed some quiet farmhouse, where all +was silent within, a dog would bay loudly or set up a terrifying howl, +which could be heard until they were far beyond. + +The moments soon turned into hours. Finally they drew rein in front of a +large farmhouse. Jack thought, as he looked at it through those +peep-holes in his cap, that he had not seen such a large and handsome +place since he arrived in the country. Barns and out-houses were +plentiful, trees and shrubbery were plentiful. This was the home of a +more wealthy farmer. They were now awaiting a signal from the leader, +when every pistol should be fired into the air to intimidate the +sleeping victim within. + +Someone spoke. "When I fire," he said, "then you can all fire; but no +man must fire mor'n once." + +The dog in the back yard had now made the discovery that someone was +about to intrude upon his master's domain and, faithful dog that he was, +he dashed out to face the enemy alone. When he reached the front, +yelping and baying, the signal gun was fired. The bullet struck the dog +squarely in the forehead, and with a short yelp he fell dead. Almost +simultaneously other pistols were fired, yet not so simultaneously as +not to be discerned separately. The Riders, who knew their business so +well, quickly separated and surrounded the house. From within came the +victim, who, when he heard the shooting, suspected immediately that +danger lurked near, and darted out of the house intending to make his +escape by the back way. + +He was caught by the strong hands of two farmers, who lead him out to +where their horses stood, followed by others. No one spoke a word. The +spectacle was new to Wade, who followed on in silence. The victim was +lead out to a strip of woodland, where he was stripped of every stitch +of clothing, bent over a fallen tree trunk and--it is too horrible a +tale to tell. The vividness of it will stand forever in the minds of the +few. No, he was not murdered, but worse. The great leather straps with +holes in them were far worse than bullets from a forty-four gun. Mr. +Openraiser begged for mercy like a child. He promised that his tobacco +would not be sold, and he would be a good obedient member in the future. +It was afterward learned that he kept his promise. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Some one laid his hand gently on Wade's shoulder. "Come on quick, now," +he whispered softly, "don't make any noise." + +It was Judson. Wade followed on silently. No sound broke the stillness +of the early morning, save the clatter of the horses' feet. Far to the +left of them the clatter was dying out; to the right of them the noise +was growing fainter; no sound came from old Peter Judson. The only +immediate sound was that made by their rifles as they clanked against +the brass parts of their saddles. The twinkling stars shone on, +undisturbed by anything that had happened. Those two Nightriders, Judson +and Wade, rode on for several miles without the exchange of words. +Finally Peter, concluding that there was no danger, jerked the cap from +his head and stuffed it into his saddle pocket. + +"Take off yer head-gear," he said to Wade, who complied gladly. + +"It's pretty warm under this thing," said Jack. + +"Not so warm as hit was under them straps, is it?" + +Wade made no reply. + +"Ye don't like that much," said Peter, smiling, "Well, ye air not ter +blame, but ye'll see ther point afore ye air many days older. Now, I +want to tell ye somethin'. They was four o' them Thompsons' thar, an' +we've gotter look out, 'cause they're shore to head us off. We air not +travelin' ther same road as we come down when we went to ther spankin'. +Think yer kin take on a little shootin' fun ter-night, Wade?" + +While Peter spoke he was glancing sharply about them. He was accustomed +to the ways of those old mountaineers, and felt quite certain that +trouble was lurking near. His experience in feuds had taught him about +what to expect, and he would not likely be caught unawares. + +"Ef ye kin," he continued, "unhook yer gun, fer they's a-goin' ter be +somethin' doin' soon." + +The words had hardly passed from his lips when there sang over their +heads the "zing" of a rifle bullet. + +"Thar ye air," shouted Peter. "We mout a-looked for that shore. Git +ready, now, an' when ye see a black spot down ther road let 'em have it +good an' straight." + +"_Bling_!" Another bullet passed harmlessly near. "_Bling!_" one was +sent back. + +"Move up a little, Jack," said Peter, tapping his horse. "I'm not +a-feered,--don't want ye ter think that,--but they be too many fer us to +stop an' argify with."--"_Bling!_" "_Blang!_"--"Give 'em thunder, boy. +Thar they air!"--"_Bling!_"--"Git to t'other side o' ther road, +Jack"--"Blang!"--"we air too close together, so's they cain't hit us so +easy."--"_Blang!_" "_Blang!_"--"Keep it a-goin', boy, ye'll git used ter +ther ways o' the mountain yet"--"_Blang!_"--"Ther durn fool!" ejaculated +Peter, grunting loudly. + +"What's the matter?" asked Wade. + +"The tip end o' one o' my fingers is gone clear as a whistle, that's +what ther matter is, boy. Give it to 'em, now,--thar they air, but they +hain't a-coming so fast. Think we must hit somebody that time. What air +they now? I don't see 'em anymore." + +"Neither do I. They have given up, Peter, as sure as you live; they've +quit the fight. Somebody got a bullet." + +"Don't be too shore, boy; they must be foolin' us and' goin' 'round to +head us off. I've been through mor'n a dozen sich fights as this,--got +two bullet holes in one leg at ther same scrap,--but they hain't got old +Peter yet. I guess it's all over for this time, Wade. Follow me now, +quick. I'm goin' ter give 'em the slip. We'll go clean 'round that hill +yonder, an' they won't know whatever become of us, ef they do try to +out-trick us." + +After skirting the hill in silence, old Peter began again: "That was one +good short fight, boy, an' I declare ye air a putty good stayer. Ye kin +pull ther trigger 'bout as fast as any Kentuckian as ever fit with me, +lessen hit was Rube Willers. I remember one time years ago when I was +on t'other side o' ther mountain, when Bill Tulliver's outfit was agin +me an' Rube Willers. 'Course we had friends, an' so did they, but Rube +could outshoot any feller what ever come into the mountains, an' I seed +him put 'bout five holes through Bill Tulliver afore he hit ther ground. +But Bill come near a-gittin' him, shore; he put a hole in Rube's +shoulder, an' ef hit'd 'a' been one inch t'other way Rube'd never 'a' +had time ter git anybody after that, he'd never 'a' had time to a-told +what struck him. These old mountaineers know how to use ther +shootin'-irons, that's shore. But I forgot to ax ye ef ye got hit, did +ye?" + +"No, I'm safe this time." + +"Ye talk like ye mout git a ball some other time, an' ye had better look +sharp all the time now. Al Thompson is a lion, but we made him git +ter-night, I believe. Don't ye think we've slipped them?" + +Jack did. + +The gray streaks of dawn were appearing in the eastern horizon and there +would likely be no more fighting. Judson and Wade were not far from home +now. Being tired and sore, they rode on in silence. Jack Wade was no +coward, a coward would never have undertaken the heavy task which he +had, but he also was not fond of fighting. Had he lived in the mountains +all his life he would have enjoyed the sport, but he had not, there was +not so much sport in it for him as there was for old Peter Judson, who +knew nothing else. + +The trouble between the Judson and Thompson factions could be dated back +to the early days, when one Alex Judson, a very young man, shot to death +one Bill Allen, a kinsman of the Thompsons, on the streets of the little +village. Alex Judson flew to the mountains, and there arose two factions +out of the killing. From time to time a Thompson or a Judson was picked +off his saddle as he rode over the mountain in the dead of night, but +after the death of Alex Judson the trouble had been patched up, and for +years had lain still, but only sleeping, not dead. The history began +before the present generation came into being, and old Peter's act in +clipping Al Thompson's trigger finger off had opened the wound anew, the +old sore bled, and the end of the trouble was not yet. + +All this and more Peter told Wade as they rode on toward home, finally +pulling up at Wade's cabin. + +"An' now, Wade," said Peter, "ye air a Judson, an' ye can't expect +anything but death. Somebody's a-goin' ter git killed afore this thing +is over. Hit may be me, hit may be you, hit may be Jim Thompson or his +son Al, an' hit may be Tom. Nobody knows who it will be till he's done +fer." + +"I shall be satisfied," replied Wade. + +Jack watched the old man out of sorrowful eyes as he rode up the hill +leading Tom's horse behind him. + +"The old fellow has had much trouble," he thought, "but he seems to +enjoy the sport of a feudal fight." Wade attended to his own stock and +then lay down for a few hours of rest. The strenuous night had been too +much for his nerves, but there was much other trouble before him of +which he little dreamed as he lay across his bed to rest. He was not +long in falling fast asleep, and it was near noon by the sun when he was +awakened by the low whine of Rover standing at the door. Wade rose and +shook himself much after the fashion of a dog coming out of the water. +His head felt heavy, his brain dull. The events of the night before were +trying to fix themselves in his memory, but he could not shape them. He +had faint recollection of all he had gone through from the time of +hearing the dog-horn, the two successive rifle shots, his hasty rush +through the fields to Judson's, and then, ah, then, of his acceptance of +the invitation to go out into the darkness of the night to watch the fun +of flogging a farmer. It all passed hazily through his sleep-clogged +brain. He could now see it all just as it happened, the firing of +rifles, his own hasty retreat, the running conversation of old Peter +Judson, as he encouraged him to keep up a continuous fire on the dark +spots in the road behind them; then Peter's exclamation that the end of +his finger had been shot away by the murderous marksmen, the escape, and +finally the return to his own cabin. + +He could not keep these events out of his memory, they were there as +dark spots and would remain so forever. Reaching for his coat, he made +the discovery that he had narrowly escaped death, for there, a half-inch +from the second button from the top, was the tell-tale hole made by a +Winchester bullet. He could remember now just when the bullet which had +nearly taken his life flew by him. He had heard the "zing!" and the +"swish!" but had not suspected that it came so close to boring a hole +through his heart. A cold shudder ran over him as he thought of the +close proximity to death. Ah, well, that was life in the mountains, that +was the fulfillment of the "call of the wilds," and he must not now +complain. Wade seemed stupefied. All the while he dreamed the good old +brown dog looked longingly up into his careworn face, as if to say, +"What's the matter, master?" But there was no reply. + +Rover whisked about him from one side to the other, in a vain effort to +attract him, but the result was the same, the mystic stupefaction was on +him, and he cared not for the dog just then. Of a sudden Rover ran out +of the door, baying furiously. Wade looked out and discovered the reason +for Rover's action. From toward the city came three men on horseback, +riding leisurely. Wade watched them closely as they came on. They were +strangers so far as he could tell from the distance that separated them. +When they were just opposite the cabin they halted, Wade still watching +them. Their actions now seemed a little strange, for one rode around the +other two and stood near the gate. Rover was tearing up the earth in his +anxiety to get at them. The man near the gate cried out loudly, and +Wade, unconscious of lurking danger, went out in answer to the call, +unarmed. He had not seen the necessity of arming himself to meet three +strangers in bright noonday. The other two lined up near the fence, and +when Wade approached, commanding Rover to be quiet, the three men +covered him with revolvers. "Hands straight up," said one. + +Wade obeyed the command. "What outrage is this?" he asked warmly. + +"No outrage at all, friend," said the captain. "It means that we have +come to arrest you, and if you make any fuss about it you might be +seriously hurt." + +"I don't understand," said Wade. + +"You will soon enough. You are under arrest in connection with the death +of one Lem Franklin, who passed in his checks last night with his boots +on." + +"What proof have you that I know anything of the death of this +Franklin?" asked Wade. + +"Sufficient to convict you of murder, sir," was the reply. + +"I don't know this Franklin at all." + +"Likely enough you don't, but the proof of your guilt is sufficient to +warrant the arrest." + +It was beginning to dawn upon Wade's bewildered mind that he and Judson +had dropped one of the enemy during the running fight of the night +before. He could see it plainly now, but he knew it would not do to +submit willingly and meekly to an arrest which would deprive him of his +liberty for a long time. + +"I am not armed at all, as you can see," he said, "and I believe it will +look better if you gentlemen will lower your revolvers. I will feel more +free then to talk with you. You have a serious advantage." + +"And we intend to hold it, too," said the captain. "A fellow must get +an advantage and keep it in this country. Make ready now, and come on." + +Wade looked fire. "I shall not submit," he said hotly. + +"Then if you will not, we must force you, and I warn you that one move +contrary on your part will cause your immediate death." + +"You are a bluffer," said Wade, "and a coward." Jack had now recognized +this man. + +The latter raised his revolver until it pointed directly at Wade's head. +"You think it a bluff, do you, and that I won't shoot?" + +"You won't do any thing fair, that's certain," exclaimed Wade. + +The assistant officers kept very quiet, not offering any way out of the +difficulty. The captain got off his horse and stepped toward Wade. "I'll +blow your brains out," he said, angrily, "if you don't come out at +once." + +"You did blow one man's life out recently," said Wade sneeringly, "and I +do not doubt but that you would blow my life out, if you were in the +dark where two other gentlemen could not look upon the deed." + +The peculiar manner in which Wade remarked this caused the two to look +one at the other, and the captain turned pale, staggered toward his +horse, and replied more cautiously: "I don't understand you, but there +is no use to argue the case. You must submit to an arrest, and that as +quickly as possible." + +Wade knew that his remarks had made a telling blow, and that he now had +an equal advantage. + +"I will not submit," he replied coolly, "and if you do not leave without +further request I shall have this entire country on to you in less time +than an hour--even before you could get three miles down the road." +Turning to Rover, Wade said, "Go home, quick, and give the alarm." The +good old, well-trained dog, seeming to understand, galloped off in the +direction indicated by Wade's pointing finger, while the officers looked +after him anxiously. The mark had been struck, however, and the +officers, thinking it a good time to depart, said, "We'll get you a +little later, old boy." With this they galloped off toward Guthrie. + +The man whom Wade had defied was no other than the assistant officer who +accompanied the warehouse man out that fateful night when Fred Conover +was so wantonly murdered. Wade had recognized him, and used the +knowledge to his own good, and to save himself from the jail at that +time. + +Thoughtfully Wade made his way slowly up the road toward Judson's home, +where he told of what had just happened. + +"That," said Peter, "is the work of Al Thompson, shore. He's to the back +of it. Seein' as how he couldn't fetch us fair and square with a bullet, +he's made up his mind ter git us any way he kin. Apt's not, ef ther +truth was known, he shot Franklin in ther back hisself, so's ter say we +done it. Hit looks kinder like he was after you specially, Wade, cause +he hain't got no right ter know that ye were out last night unless he +seed ye or heerd ye a-talkin', or seed Tom's hoss, one t'other. Ef he +didn't, he's a-playin' a sneakin' game, that's what. Well, I see I +cain't git 'bout, fer awhile, on account o' this hyar finger bein' a +little sore, an' Tom, he's walkin' 'bout a little now, an' you an' +him'll hafter kinder keep things a-goin'--keep 'em warm till I git so I +kin shoot agin. Ye needn't be afeerd o' them officers a-comin' back +agin. They won't do that. Only 'cause ye air putty nigh a stranger hyar +that they ever tackled ye 'tall. Thay won't tackle a feller what knows, +that's shore. They're skeered o' their shadders, that's what they air." + +Old Peter quit talking long enough to put out a plug of tobacco as large +as his fist to be replaced with another equally as large, and continued: + +"Now, Wade, ye've got ther best of one man anyway, an' I reckon ye +better keep ther knife thar a little while. Hit'll do us all good some +time, an I reckon ye better not go a-fishin' ter-day, 'cause Al +Thompson'll turn ther mountain over ter do us up. I seed Frank Buckalew +ter-day, an' told him how things was a-goin', an' he said he'd fix +things warm over t'other side, an' he'll do it, too. He's my cousin, an' +as good a fighter as ever carried a gun over ther mountain, I seed him +kill a feller onct after the other feller had him kivered. Hit was done +so quick he never know'd what struck him." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Late August and seasoning. Many of the farmers who had raised tobacco at +all had it stored in their barns, some intending to sell openly, and +others to throw into the pool. The great association knew what was going +on from the top of the mountain to the cities below. "The Wolf, +Night-Watch," had been very busy from the beginning of the burning +season through the turning, resetting, and gathering. He knew just how +much tobacco each farmer had raised, where it was stored, when and to +whom he expected to sell it, and what he expected to realize on the +sale. He knew how much tobacco Jack Wade had stored in his barns down on +the Redmond farm, and he also knew that Wade was in thorough sympathy +with the association, which was making strenuous efforts to raise the +price of tobacco to a point where living expenses could be met. + +Every farmer knew Wade now, and looked upon him as a strong friend and a +powerful help in the community. His popularity had grown to such an +extent that he was recognized as a leader, and his counsel was eagerly +and continuously sought. He had made such a thorough study of the +situation that he was familiar with all points. His great genius was +highly esteemed, his knowledge of tobacco and the manner of raising it +brought many of the older raisers to converse with him, and he freely +talked with everyone, giving his idea in full. The result of his study +was that more tobacco and a much higher grade was being raised on less +ground than the old heads thought it possible to raise at all. + +When the purchasers from Hopkinsville came, Wade searched them +thoroughly with his keen eye. He knew they had intended to put the price +down low, and he was going to meet them in a manner that they little +dreamed of. + +"Yours is the finest tobacco I have seen," said one. + +"Thank you," replied Wade carelessly. "Have you purchased much yet?" + +"Only one barn. I'll offer you three and one-half cents at once for +yours." + +Wade just stared at the speaker. + +"I'll make it four cents," said the other. + +Wade turned upon him sharply. + +"Do you expect to buy much tobacco at that price?" he asked. + +"We expect to purchase every pound of tobacco in this country at less +than five cents," said one. + +In Wade's mind there was a set determination, born on the moment, that +they should not purchase one pound of tobacco for less than ten cents, +and perhaps more. + +"You are buying for the trusts?" he asked. + +"No," said the other, half angrily, "we are _not_ buying for the trusts. +I am buying for a private company, and have no connection with this +gentleman, although we are together. If his judgment leads him to +believe that the tobacco is worth more than my judgment leads me to +believe it to be worth, naturally he offers a better price, that's all. +Now, as I said, you have about the highest quality tobacco I have seen +this season, therefore I shall raise this gentleman's offer and make it +four cents and the half. Shall you let it go at that?" + +"I shall not." + +"Then you may keep it stored until it rots." + +"Hold!" said the second man. "My last offer is six cents. Shall you let +it go?" + +"I shall _not_!" + +"Then keep it in your barns until it rots; you'll not get more than we +have offered you." + +"I'll allow it to rot then," said Wade defiantly. + +The two men rode off toward Judson's. Wade meant to fulfill his +determination, if it should cost him many thousands of dollars. Hastily +saddling his horse he also rode up to Judson's, where he found the two +tobacco purchasers parleying with old Peter. + +"No," Peter was saying, "I hain't got much terbacker this season, but ye +cain't git what little I've got fer no three and a half cents." + +Jack touched the old man on the shoulder. "Remember, Judson," he +whispered, "I'll make it one cent heavier than they offer." Then he +rode in search of Tom, whom he instructed to go over the country as fast +as he could and advise the faithful ones to hold their tobacco for +twelve cents. "Tell them," he said, "that they have a standing offer of +eleven and one-half from me, and they should hold out for twelve from +anyone else. Make it plain to them that the offer is made in good faith, +and the man who fails to sell in good season for twelve cents shall +receive eleven and one-half. You had not better go into Thompson's +territory." + +"I'll go thar too," said Tom, "an' I'll even go to old Jim Thompson's +house. He can't hurt anybody yet, an' Al's off on a trip right now, so +they's nuthin' to be skeered of." + +"I won't make the offer to Thompson at this time, Tom; it would be no +use. He'd rather sell for one cent than accept assistance from us." + +"All right, I hain't a-keerin' much 'bout foolin' 'round thar, anyhow." + +"Be off, then!" + +The two men were still parleying with Peter, in an effort to purchase +his tobacco, but he was holding very high above them. + +"No," he said, "I'll not take seven nor eight." + +"My last offer is nine," said one. + +"But I'm offered ten." + +"I'll take what you have for ten," said the second. + +"I'm offered eleven," said Peter, smiling. + +The two purchasers turned in disgust and went their way, considerably +discouraged at the outcome of their trip. It was the same everywhere. +"I'm offered one cent more," was all they could hear. They were unable +to make out as to who had got in ahead of them to offer more, and they +could not reconcile this condition with Wade's whispered conversation +with Peter Judson. Every place they visited they received the same +reply, so they turned back to Hopkinsville with dejected countenances. +When they had departed from Judson's, the old man turned to Wade and +said, "Boy, what do you mean, anyway? Do ye expect ter fight ther great +trusts?" Peter smiled. + +"For this season I do. There is only one way to win a battle, and that +way is to fight. Can't you see the result already? We shall get twelve +cents for our tobacco, where you have been getting only six. If it works +out all right, I'll offer more next season, and Nightriding will be +forever done away with and peace will reign among the farmers of this +rich country. Do you see it all?" + +Peter did see it, and was very enthusiastic. + +"Ye air a brick, Jack," he said. "I always knowed that ye had a great +head an' was sent into this kintry to save ther poor devils who +couldn't save themselves, 'cause hit'll work, an' they'll be back fer +the terbacker at twelve cents afore long, shore. They got ter git this +terbacker or go busted an' quit. Tom'll not quit ridin' till he's told +every farmer plum to t'other side o' ther hill an' back. Whoop, let 'er +go, we'll down 'em yet!" + +Old Peter threw his hat high into the air and jumped like a boy, so +enthusiastic did he become. + +"Ye'll make yerself more popular than ye air already, Jack, ef ye don't +watch out a little." + +Wade knew his own power better than any other person. He merely smiled +at the old man's great enthusiasm, then turned to Nora, who had stood +listening to everything, feeling a higher admiration for Jack Wade. + +"We'll take that trip to the brook to-day, if you like," he said. "The +day is so calm and the air so invigorating, it will do us good." + +"I shall be pleased," she said. "Shall we go at once?" + +"If it won't interfere with your duties at home." + +"Nuthin' ter hinder," said Mrs. Judson; "she kin go when she wants." + +The little wild flowers that earlier in the year were so bright and +happy were now a little drooped, having gone through the warm summer +with but little water; however, they still nodded approvingly as the two +passed astride the gentle steeds. + +"When we were here last," said Wade, "the spring was just appearing and +everything was so beautifully green." + +"The summer sun has been too much for the foliage and flowers," replied +Nora. + +"That is only to remind us of what humanity must pass through," said +Jack. "The bloom of youth is upon us, we are now in the springtime of +our lives, fresh and gay; but the great hot summer of time must pass +over our heads to wither us as the summer sun has withered and drooped +the sweet little flowers. The cold winters of time must pass over us to +silver the golden curls and gray the hair as the summer sun has given a +golden tint to those once green leaves yonder." + +"Oh, Jack, must it be so?" + +"Do not look so sorrowful over it, child. Life is life, and must be +lived out in accordance with the will of the Almighty, maker of heaven +and earth. See how beautiful the golden-tinted leaves appear in the last +hours of their lives. They have done their duty, and the reward is +theirs; they toil no more, but man, who is born of woman, is of few days +and full of sorrow." + +"While it seems that all is night to the poor woman whom God has seen +fit to place here as a helpmeet to man." + +"You are looking through the darkness to-day, Nora." + +"There seems no light, Jack." + +"Yet it will break in on you, my child, when you are least expecting +it." + +"Then there will be other things to worry over." + +"My little fairy," said Wade, "you were not born to worry. Cease. It +makes you thin; you must not worry any more." + +"How can I help it, Jack? I must worry while conditions are as they now +are in the valley. I fear lest Dad shall be killed, I fear lest Tom +shall be picked from his saddle, and I--I even fear lest you might not +be with us long. You must know that you have been a great salvation to +this country, in one sense, and in another----" + +"What! you hesitate?" + +"If you should die," said Nora slowly, "why, life would not be worth +much to some." + +"And to you, Nora?" + +"Without you all would be dark." + +"Nora!" + +"Yes, Jack. You are the only person who ever awakened within my soul a +sensation akin to joy. Your big heart has won my esteem, and--and----" + +Nora hung her head shyly, as she told what had been in her heart for +some time. + +"Your love is not in vain," said Wade. + +They had now reached the brook, and were dismounting. + +"Let us seal our love right here, under this tree," said Wade, and he +impressed a kiss upon her sweet forehead. A quiet flush covered her +face, and she was very happy. + +The spot they selected was a lovely one 'neath a small bush, where they +would be completely hid from the view of an idle passer. They were in +Thompson's territory, and, though Tom Judson had thought Al was away, it +was not true. This had been a ruse on the part of the wily Al in order +to catch a Judson napping. Wade did not know of a certainty that Al was +not gone, but he was cautious, nevertheless. His rifle was ever near +him. Now, they had not been long secure until they saw Al meandering +down the stream on the opposite side from them. Wade watched him until +he was directly opposite them, then whispered to Nora to keep well hid. +Leveling his rifle at Al, he commanded him to halt. Nora's heart beat +fast in her bosom. Al, recognizing Wade's voice, looked sharply around, +sending his right hand to his pistol pocket. Too late. + +"Take it off," said Wade, "or I may be tempted to blow out your life." + +Wade spoke in the rough language of the mountaineer. Times were such +that a fellow must necessarily blow a fellow's brains out or get his own +scattered over the earth. Thompson caught sight of Wade in his +hiding-place and, seeing that he was looking into the barrel of Wade's +rifle, took his hand from his pocket and raised it, with the other, high +above his head. + +"Ye've got me shore, this time," said Al. "What ye goin' ter do with +me?" + +"I'm going to kill you," replied Wade. "Turn your back to me, and be +quick about it." + +"What! ye hain't a goin' ter shoot me in ther back, air ye?" asked +Thompson, turning to fulfill the command. + +"Wouldn't you shoot me in the back, or any other part of the body, had +you the opportunity?" + +"I didn't." + +"You haven't had the opportunity." + +"Yes, I have." + +"When?" + +"Ther night I borried yer hoss. Ye didn't know me then, Wade, but hit +was me, shore. I lost my hoss an' just had ter have 'nuther--had so much +ter do afore morning', an' I took yours for only a little while, 'cause +I knowed you wouldn't have as much ter do as me." + +"Why did you not kill me, Thompson, while you had the chance?" + +"Because ye didn't kill me when ye had the chance, that's why." + +Wade crossed the stream, going directly through the water, took Al's +pistols from his pockets and laid them on the ground a safe distance +away. Stepping back a pace, he commanded Thompson to turn and face him. + +"So you did not kill me that night because I had not killed you at a +time when I had an advantage?" + +"Exactly. Do ye think one of us fellers could be unfair? Not so; we +treat everybody square. That time made us even, but I said I'd kill ye +ef ye was caught that away again." + +"In that case, Thompson, I have a perfect right to let you have a load," +said Wade, drawing a bead on the latter's head. "First, however, I want +to know why you hate me so, why do you wish to kill me at all?" + +"That ought'n ter make any difference ter you." + +"It does, and your life just now depends upon your answer to the +question. I've got you dead to rights, and you may as well know that I +do not intend you shall live another moment if your motives against me +are not true. Now answer how you will." + +"In ther first place," said Thompson coolly, "ye air playin' false with +ther gal I love. Ye don't intend ter marry her. Ye've already said in +yer own mind that she's not good enough fer you, an' ye air foolin' with +her heart an' a-killin' her, an' she's weaned away from me, so it's made +me sick, an' I said I'd kill ye fer it. Then ye got ther best of me, an' +didn't, an' I got ther best of you, an' I didn't. Now, ye have me, an' I +reckon ye oughter do it, though, I----" + +"You are lying," interrupted Wade. "You are lying through and through, +and you know it. You are a coward, Thompson, through and through, and +you feel it, so I'm going to shoot you through the top of your head +right now to end your earthly fears and settle the matter once and +forever." + +There was a terrible gleam in Wade's eyes, Thompson saw it, and his +flesh quivered. He saw Wade raise his rifle barrel until it was level +with his breast, up it came until it was level with his head. There came +over him an impulse to break and run for his life, but his horror of +being shot in the back kept him from doing so. The sensation within him +at that moment was terrible. Suddenly, being thoroughly overcome with +fright, he threw both hands high into the air and cried out for mercy. + +"For God's sake," he exclaimed, "don't kill me this way!" + +"I knew you were a coward," said Wade. "I didn't ask you for mercy when +you would have driven your knife through me, but I am going to hear your +cry and let you go. One thing I want to know, however, and I must have +the absolute truth. Didn't you come down this way looking for me?" + +"Yes." + +"And intended killing me?" + +"I did." + +"What object had you in telling the officers that I killed Franklin?" + +"I wanted to fix ye then." + +"Did you not shoot Franklin yourself?" + +"No, no. I didn't! Hit was a bullet from your gun, or old man Judson's. +No, Wade, I did not do that. I hain't that mean, ef they do say I am." + +"How did you know I was out with the Riders?" + +"I didn't know ye was there. I took a long shot ter fix ye, that's all." + +"All right, now, here are your pistols. Take them and get as fast as you +can. Don't try to use them now, but when you get the drop on me again +you had better pull the trigger." + +Wade watched Thompson as he made his departure. When he had put +considerable distance between them Al fired both his pistols in the air +and gave one of his old-time Comanche yells that vibrated through the +woodland. + +"I'll git ye yet," he cried back. "Ye hain't, got away from me, an' +what's more, ye hain't a-goin' ter." + +Wade drifted back across the stream to where he had left Nora, and found +her shaking from fright. + +"You didn't take these matters so seriously when I first came into this +country," said Jack. + +"No," replied Nora, "for then I did not think as I do now. I really +believed you were about to commit murder. Oh, Jack, how happy you have +made me, by withholding your hand." + +"Once you said it would be better for me to kill Thompson at sight. Did +you not?" + +"I did not, Jack. That is what father told you." + +"Pardon me, Nora, you are quite right. Time has blurred my memory." + +"I am so glad, Jack, that you are such a fearless man. A coward would +have taken the advantage you had and would have slain Al." + +"Thank you." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The little cabin at the foot of the mountain was enshrouded in gloom, +would soon be engulfed by the dark shadows of night. In the cabin window +a candle light, wafted by the soft twilight breeze, flickered and +sputtered, but burned on in obedience to the will of the powers that be. +In a bed in one corner of the room lay Nora, that sweet girl of the +wilds, a pallor spread over her face. + +The light in the window was flickering just as her own life had been +flickering and smoldering, but it did not go out. She was still alive, +and the crucial point had been passed. Now she lay, the Diana of the +hills, as beautiful as the Diana of old. Outside 'neath the large +spreading tree the chickens were strutting, craning their necks, bobbing +their heads up and down, looking upward preparatory to a flight to the +limbs above them. On the rickety little porch old Rover was lying, head +cast down between his front forepaws, with a sorrowful expression upon +his dog face. The mistress had been ill for some time, and his +master--Wade--had not paid the least attention to him, always appearing +as though he preferred being alone; so the old dog, feeling the many +slights, went about with a cast-down countenance. + +Earlier in the day Wade had passed going toward the mountain in search +of game. Later on he was blazing his way, with the barrel of his rifle, +through the thick underbrush down the mountain side. He had got into +entire new territory, and sometimes it became necessary for him to crawl +through, so thick was the brush. Other times he merely pushed aside the +low-hanging limbs with his gun, finally emerging from the thicket into +the open space. When space would allow he straightened himself out, +then his back ached and his hands and knees were very sore. Suddenly he +caught the sound of a disturbed rabbit as it flitted out from its snug +nest beneath the shrub. Jack looked quickly in that direction, in time +to see it crossing the ravine too far away to shoot. As he walked on +there came to his listening ears the shrill whistle of a mountain quail +as it sang out its note of warning to its hidden mate near. Wade started +off in the direction whence the call of the quail came, but after +walking some distance gave up the search and stood still. A dead silence +prevailed. Before him was the clear running stream, behind him a wild +waste of mountain. Down to the stream's edge he walked, and sat down to +rest his tired, weary, sore limbs. The sun was now setting behind the +western hills, the soft gentle twilight was drooping over the mountain +and valley; still Wade sat, dangling his feet over a precipice, gazing +down through the gathering mist into the gleaming waters below, watching +them as they went dancing gleefully over the rocks, sending their +sparkling, silvery spray high into the air, falling again like silver +bubbles. When the dark shadows swooped down and the day was no more, he +still sat. When the golden moon rose above the towering mountain, +dispelling the hideousness of a lonesome, dark night, he was still +sitting in the same spot, dangling his heels against the solid +embankment. Across his limbs lay his rifle, his right hand protecting +it, while his chin rested firmly in his left hand, which was supported +at the elbow by his left leg. Thus he sat silent, no sound save that of +the rippling waters of the little running brook breaking the stillness +of the night. + +"Ah me, ah me!" sighed Wade. His head was bent and his heart was +stooped; it must be all over. "For so long a time have I been about this +mountain, and the object of my coming, though faithfully sought, has not +been found; my purpose remains yet unfulfilled. The tortures I would +have inflicted upon others have been turned upon my own heart. My soul +is sad. I give up, I give up, for all time. There are now no murderous +intents in my heart, there are now no evil designs in my life. Would +that I was at peace with everybody. All my heart's desire is peace, +sweet peace, that I might spend the balance of my days amid the sweet +perfumed mountain flowers and about this dear little stream with whose +swiftly running waters I have raced so often, always with her, the +sweetest and most beautiful of all. Dear wild flower of the mountain!" + +Wade raised his head until he looked into the beautiful blue of the +heavens. The gleaming stars, arrayed in silvery brightness, looked down +on him. + +"Speak, lights of God, speak to my waiting heart, speak to my burdened +soul and tell me, if you can, what the future holds in store for me. Am +I to continue in hell on earth for my evil life? If so, tell me quick +that I might dash my head against yonder rock and end the torture now. +If not, speak, that she might live. God save her, let not her present +illness separate us forever. It would blight my life; it would kill me. +Save her that she may save my soul from a torturous hell; save her that +her sweet life might be a blessing to the great, big world beyond this +mountain, which she so much longs to see." + +Jack felt much better--as does anyone after a faithful prayer. He felt +that his prayer had been answered already, and rose in great haste to +make his way back over the mountain to the bedside of Nora. He had not +seen her all day, had been afraid to see her lest he should find her +cold in death, but rather spent a great portion of the day in prayer for +her immediate relief. When he arrived at the cabin of Peter Judson the +flickering candle-light was still in the window, burning low. His heart +sank; it was emblematic of a low ebbing life. With bowed head and +unsteady step he went in. Old Rover, still lying quietly and silently on +the porch, did not rise at Wade's approach, but wagged his tail in +recognition. A death-like quiet pervaded the place, a solemn stillness +overspread the home, but he was encouraged to go on, with a feeling that +matters were improved. + +Old Peter met him at the door, and to his anxious, questioning stare he +said: "She's much better; the danger is over." + +"Thank God," came in broken whisper. + +Wade sat down by the bedside and took the slender, pale hand in his own +strong one. For a moment no sound came from the lips of either of them, +they just looked into each other's eyes until the weaker ones became +mist-filled, and those strong, manly eyes of Jack Wade battled hard +against heavy odds just at that moment, but the tears were held firmly +back while he rubbed the hand which he held. + +"I'm much better now, Jack." The voice was low and weak, but sweet and +serene. "Your presence is like good medicine. Why haven't you been by +before?" + +Wade would not tell her that the balm came from God; therein he was +weak. His excuse was, however, satisfying to the tired and worn mind, +and strength to the wasted frame. She looked up into his face sweetly. + +"You look so tired and worn, Jack," she said, "have you been worrying a +great deal?" + +"I have worried much, dear girl, on your account. Now that you are +better, I will not look worried any more." + +"Have you encountered any trouble lately, has your life been +threatened?" + +"It has not. All has been peace and quiet without; the turbulence has +been within only. I do not have fears for anything as regards the power +or will of man. We must not talk of those things just now. When you are +stronger I have much to tell you." + +"Then I must get stronger fast, for I cannot bear to lie here while you +are withholding something from me." + +"I fear you won't like me when I have confessed and laid my life bare +before you." + +"That cannot be, Jack. Nothing at all shall separate us, so far as I am +concerned." + +Wade raised the thin pale hand to his lips and kissed it, thus bringing +a flush to her sweet face. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Nora gradually regained her old strength, and after a few weeks had +passed she was going about doing her domestic duties as before. Jack +Wade was sorrowful no longer, and Rover was himself once more. + +When the good dog saw Wade coming through the gate he began wagging his +tail and showing by other signs that he was as happy as the human beings +about him. When Wade departed for his own cabin Rover would accompany +him, sometimes halfway, sometimes the entire distance, as if he believed +harm would come to his friend unless he kept close watch over him. +Somehow, Rover had a better instinct in sniffing danger than most dogs, +and when there was the least intimation of danger or trouble Rover +scented it very early, and generally conveyed the news to those about +him in his own good way. He was fully understood, his language was well +known to his masters, and they knew by his actions what was about to +happen. + +Thus it was that, when Wade was doing his evening chores, Rover came +galloping into the horse-lot, baying in a troubled fashion. Something +was about to happen. Rover never acted in this manner unless it was so. +He ran whining to Wade, caught his boot-leg between his teeth and +pulled; then letting loose, darted rapidly toward the gate, back again, +barking in a manner indicating fear, taking the boot-leg again and +pulling vigorously. + +"What, old boy," said Wade, "some more trouble in the air? Well, just be +patient until I can lock this door and get my good weapons, and we shall +see what it's all about." + +So speaking to the dog, Wade locked the barn, hurried into the house +and, taking his two pistols and rifle, started cautiously up the lane +toward Judson's cabin. Night had fallen and the moon was just peeping up +over the hills, sending forth a dim dusty light, while the sky was +canopied with a very thin white cloud and the stars gave forth no light +at all. Wade made his way as noiselessly as possible, followed by Rover. +Looking in the direction of Judson's, he saw a streak of light made from +the flash of a rifle shot, followed by a faint report, which meant a +bullet to where he knew not. He knew that the long looked for trouble +was on in real earnest, therefore hastened his pace. The firing from +many rifles became more general. He had got close enough to see that +there were more than a half dozen combatants firing on Judson's cabin +from toward the hill. Judson and his son Tom were returning the fire at +intervals in an effort to repulse the attack, and had been successful in +holding off a rush. From his position Wade could have taken off two of +the opponents before they discovered him, but the flashing fire of his +rifle, however, would have disclosed his hiding place. + +He thought for a moment, raised his rifle to his shoulder and took +deliberate aim at a foe sitting on the back of his horse. No, that would +be murder straight out. God forbid! Still, the impulse to fire clung to +him, but he could not seem to pull the trigger. The firing between the +combatants now became more furious, and suddenly he heard someone in the +house cry out with pain. Again he took aim at the man nearest him, +fully intending to put out the light of life. His finger touched the +trigger and in another moment one would have been slain, when a hand was +laid gently upon his shoulder. It was so sudden, however, in that +terrible moment, that fright ran through him and he accidentally pulled +the trigger of his rifle, but the ball went high into the air. He was +hastily pulled into the cover of the barn. + +The effects of his shot worked terror to the hearts of the attacking +party, however, who thought they were being surrounded on all sides by +unknown foes, therefore took time by the forelock and fled in great +confusion toward the hills. But look! one horse bounded off riderless. +Could it be possible that one was in hiding near, and intended doing a +bit of guerrilla fighting? + +Wade stood like one transfixed to the spot, looking after the fleeing +horses of the enemy, not once turning to see who touched him, until the +last fleeing form had passed from view and the firing had ceased +altogether; then he turned and stood face to face with Nora Judson. A +flush, unseen through the darkness, covered his hitherto pale face. For +one brief moment they stood facing each other. + +"How came you here?" he asked. + +"Our mutual friend told me that you was about to fall into an error." +She looked toward Rover, who stood at one side wagging his tail. "Jack," +she said, tenderly yet sorrowfully, "you were about to commit murder." + +"I _might_ have killed one of those fellows, but I cannot see that it +would have been murder in a real sense; we are enemies, and this has +been a small war." + +"But you were about to take the life of someone in a manner that I would +not call bravery. You were not in front of the battle as an open enemy. +The fellow you would have killed knew nothing of your presence here, and +that would have been cold-blooded murder." + +"What is the difference in this country, where all is murder?" + +Wade was evidently trying to relieve his conscience. + +"The difference is not with the other fellow, but with you. I am glad, +however, that you did not kill him." + +"I am also glad of that, Nora, thanks to you." They were now walking +toward the cabin. "Was anyone inside hurt?" asked Wade. "I heard someone +cry painfully." + +"That was Dad's ruse to draw them to a closer range, but it was the +accidental discharge of your rifle that put a stop to the fight." + +Peter Judson was cautiously peering about, when he espied Wade and Nora. + +"Hi, thar!" he said. "Be ye enemies or friends?" + +"Friends," replied Wade. + +"Ye jest missed some fun, shore. Reckon we give them fellers 'bout as +good a scare as ever they had, don't you think?" + +"From the way they retreated," said Wade, "I believe they were +frightened; but we must be very careful, Judson,--one horse went up the +hill riderless." + +Old man Peter scratched his head. "The dickens ye say. Reckon what that +means, Wade?" + +"That someone is lurking around in the dark to pick us off when we least +expect it." + +"Wade, ye don't know these fellers yet, long's ye've been here. +Somebody's lyin' out yonder dead, as shore as you live. Tom, git the +lantern an' come on; let's take a look." + +Followed by Tom and Wade, Peter went out the gate toward the spot where +the enemy were located while the fighting was going on. Old Peter, that +old time scout of the mountains, stopped and stood in a listening +attitude. Now he heard the faint groan from someone to the left of them; +his trained ear carried him to the fallen man. + +"Hi, thar, friend!" he called out; "whar air ye?" + +"I'm dyin'," came back the groaning reply, "I'm dyin', shore; this +time." + +Peter went on and bent over the fallen form. Throwing the glare of his +lantern in the face of the man, he gasped, "My God! it's Al Thompson." + +"Yes, it's Al, old man; ye got me this time." Thompson was speaking +laboriously, while Wade and those near listened breathlessly. Thompson +was dying sure enough. His last words were a curse against those who had +been his enemies. "Ye got me now, damn ye!" he said, "but I'll git ye +when ye come down ter t'other world, ye----" + +Thompson could say no more. + +Peter looked into the pale face. "He's dead, shore, boys; he's a goner +now, an' won't give us any more trouble." + +Just at this juncture there could be heard the sound of the heavy beat +of horses coming over the mountain. + +"Git back a little, quick!" said Peter, "they mout be more trouble in +the air." + +There was no further danger, however, for old Jim Thompson came over +the mountain bearing the flag of truce; with him were two other men. + +"Hey, Judson!" he cried, "come out quick. There will be no more fightin' +from this side." Old man Thompson was quite surprised to hear Judson +reply from a very few feet away: "Ef ye mean that, Jim, hit's good news, +an' I'm with ye; but ef ye air a-jokin' or workin' a game, ye better go +slow." + +"I'm sincere, Peter," replied Thompson. "Ye've shot my arm off agin +to-night an' killed Al, an' I've got 'nough, an' nuthin' left to fight +fer. It's no fault o' yours, as I kin see." + +"I'm willin' ter be yer friend, Jim. Git down an' les hold prayer over +Al's dead body, an' bind this covenant over him so's ther fust one as +breaks it, let them what hears kill us then an' thar." + +Wade and Nora stood off a few paces and, though there was gloom about +the mountain side for some, they were very happy with the thought that +with Al Thompson out of the way their troubles would forever end. + + * * * * * + +There remains no more incidents to be related in the story of John +Redmond's desire for revenge, other than to relate that he told his +secret to Nora, who in turn told her father all. Peter related the full +circumstances of the death of the elder John Redmond, and proved beyond +the shadow of a doubt that Al Thompson slew him single handed. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Nightrider's Feud, by Walter C. 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