第3章

XII

THEstarandthecrescentwereswingingaboveWolf’sHead，andinthedarkhourthatbreaksintodawnacavalcadeofLewallensfordedtheCumberland，andgallopedalongtheStetsonshore。AttheheadrodeyoungJasper，andCrumpthespy。

Swiftchangeshadfollowedthecourt—housefight。InspiteofthedeathofRufeStetsonfromhiswound，andseveralotherStetsonsfromambush，theLewallenshadlostground。OldJasper’sstorehadfallenintothehandsofcreditors—"furriners"—fordebts，anditwassaidhishomesteadmustfollow。Inaprivatewaraleadermustbemorethanleader。Hemustfeedandoftenclothehisfollowers，andyoungJasperhadnotthemeanstocarryonthefeud。Thefaminehadmadecorndear。Hecouldfeedneithermannorhorse，andthehiredfeudsmenfellaway，leavingtheLewallensandtheBraytonsandtheirclosekintobattlealone。SoJasperavoidedopencombatandresortedtoambushandsurprise；and，knowinginsomewayeverymovemadebytheStetsons，withgreatdaringandsuccess。Itwaswhispered，too，thathenolongercaredwhoownedwhathemightwantforhimself。Severaldarkdeedsweretracedtohim。Inalittlewhilehewasaterrortogoodcitizens，andfinallyoldGabeaskedaidoftheGovernor。Soldiersfromthesettlementswerelookedforanyday，andbothfactionsknewit。Attheleastthiswoulddelaythewar，andyoungJasperhadgotreadyforalastfight，whichwascloseathand。

Halfamileontheridersswervedintoawoodedslope。Theretheyhidtheirhorsesinthebrush，andclimbedthespurstealthily。Thenakedwoodsshowedthecup—likeshapeofthemountainsthere—abasinfromwhichradiatedupwardwoodedravines，edgedwithribsofrock。InthisbasintheStetsonswereencamped。Thesmokeofafirewasvisibleinthedimmorninglight，andtheLewallensscatteredtosurroundthecamp，buttheeffortwasvain。Apicketsawthecreepingfigures；hisgunechoedawarningfromrocktorock，andwithyellstheLewallensranforward。Romesprangfromhissleepnearthefire，bareheaded，rifleinhand，hisbodyplainagainstahugerock，andthebulletshissedandspatabouthimasheleapedthiswayandthat，firingashesprang，andshoutingforhismen。SteveMarcumaloneanswered。Some，startledfromsleep，hadfledinapanic；somehadrundeeperintothewoodsforshelter。AndbiddingStevesavehimself，Rometurnedupthemountain，runningfromtreetotree，anddroppedunhurtbehindafallenchestnut。OtherStetsons，too，hadturned，andansweringbulletsbegantowhistletotheenemy，buttheywerewidelyseparatedandignorantofoneanother’sposition，andtheLewallensdrovethemonebyonetonewhiding—places，scatteringthemmore。

TohisrightRomesawSteveMarcumspeedlikeashadowupthroughalittleopenspace，buthefearedtomove，forseveralLewallenshadrecognizedhim，andwerewatchinghimalone。Hecouldnotevenfire；attheleastexposuretherewasachorusofbulletsabouthisears。Inamomenttheybegantocomeobliquelyfromeachside—theLewallensweregettingaroundhim。Inamomentmoredeathwassurethere，andonceagainhedartedupthemountain。Thebulletssangafterhimlikemaddenedbees。Hefeltonecuthishatandanotherstinghisleftarm，butheracedup，up，tillthefiringgrewfainterasheclimbed，andceasedaninstantaltogether。Then，stillfartherbelow，cameasuddencrashofreports。Stetsonswerepursuingthemenwhowereafterhim，buthecouldnotjointhem。TheLewallenswerescatteredeverywherebetweenhimandhisownman，andadesccntmightleadhimtothemuzzleofanenemy’sWinchester。Soheclimbedoveraledgeofrockandlaythere，peepingthroughacrevicebetweentwobowlders，gaininghisbreath。Thefiringwasfarbelowhimnow，andwassharp。Evidentlyhispursuersweretoobusydefendingthemselvestothinkfurtherofhim，andhebegantoplanhowheshouldgetbacktohisfriends。Buthekepthidden，and，searchingthecliffsbelowhimforasheltereddescent，hesawsomethinglikeaslouchedhatjustoveralog，scarcelyfiftyfeetbelowhim。

Presentlythehatwasliftedafewinches；afigurerosecautiouslyandclimbedtowardtheledge，shieldingitselfbehindrockandtree。VeryquietlyRomecrawledbacktothefaceofthecliffbehindhim，andcrouchedbehindarockwithhiscockedrifleacrosshisknees。Themanmustclimbovertheledge；therewouldbeabare，levelfloorofrockbetweenthem—theLewallenwouldbeathismercy—andRome，withstrainingeyes，waited。Therewasafootfallontheothersideoftheledge；asoftclinkofmetalagainststone。TheLewallenwasclimbingslowly—slowly。Romecouldhearhisheavybreathing。Agrimyhandslippedoverthesharpcomboftheledge；anotherappeared，clinchedaboutaWinchester—thentheslouchedhat，andunderitthedark，craftyfaceofyoungJasper。

Romesatlikethestonebeforehim，withahalf—smileonhislips。

Jasperpeeredaboutwiththeslycautionofafox，andhisfacegrewpuzzledandchagrinedashelookedatthecliffsabovehim。

"Stopthar!"

Hewasdrawinghimselfovertheledge，andthelow，sternvoicestartledhim，asaknifemighthavedone，thrustsuddenlyfromtheemptyairathisbreast。Romeroseuprightagainstthecliff，withhisresolutefaceagainstthestockofaWinchester。

"Drapthatgun!"

TheorderwasgivenalongStetson’sbarrel，andtheweaponwasdropped，thesteelringingonthestonefloor。Romeloweredhisguntothehollowofhisarm，andthetwoyoungleadersfacedeachotherforthefirsttimeinthelifeofeither。

Seemkinders’prisedtoseeme，"saidtheStetson，grimly。"Hevyegotapistol？

YoungJasperglaredathiminhelplessferocity。

"Naw!"

"Knife？"

Hedrewalong—bladedpenknifefromhispocket，andtosseditatRome’sfeet。

"Jes’moveoverthar，willye？"

TheLewallentookhisstandagainstthecliff。Romepickedupthefallenrifleandleaneditagainsttheledge。

"Now，JasLewallen，thar’snobodyleftinthisleetletrouble’ceptyou’n’me，’n’efoneofuswasdead，Ireckont’othercouldlivehyeh，’n’thar’dbepeaceinthesemount’ins。Ithoughto’thatwhenI

hadyeattheeendo’thisWinchester。Ireckonyouwould’a’shotmedeadefIhadpokedmyheadoverarockaskeerlessasyou。"

Thatisjustwhathewouldhavedone，andJasperdidnotanswer。

"I’vesworetokillye，too，"addedRome，tappinghisgun；"I’vegotacrossferyehyeh。"

TheLewallenwasnocoward。Outcryorresistancewasuseless。

TheStetsonmeanttotaunthim，tomakedeathmorebitter；forJasperexpecteddeath，andhesullenlywaitedforitagainstthecliff。

"You’vebeenbanterinmealongtimenow，’lowin’ashowyeairthebettermano’thetwo；n’I’vegotanotiono’givin’yeachancetoproveyertalltalk。Hit’snotourwaytokillamanincoldblood，’n’Idon’twanttokillyeanywaysefIkinhe’pit。Seems’prisedag’in。Reckonyedon’tbelieveme？Idon’twonderwhenIthinko’

myowndad，’n’allthemeannessyofolkshavedonemine；butI’vegotagoodreasonfernotkillin’ye—efIkinhe’pit。Y’udon’tknowwhatitis，’n’y’u’llneverknow；butI’llgiveyerachancenowferyerlifeefy’u’llsw’aronastacko’Biblesashighasthattreetharthaty’u’llleavethesemount’insefIwhoopsye，’n’nuvercomebackag’inaslongasyoulive。I’llleave，efyewhoopsme。Nowwhutdoyesay？Willyesw’ar？

"IreckonIwill，seem’asI’vegotto，"wasthesurlyanswer。ButJasper’sfacewasdarkwithsuspicion，andRomestudieditkeenly。

TheLewallensoncehadbeenmenwhosewordwasgood，buthedidnotlikeJasper’slook。

"IreckonI’lltrustye，"hesaid，atlast，morethroughconfidenceinhisownstrengththanfaithinhisenemy；foiJasperwhippedwouldbeasmuchathismercyashewasnow。SoRomethrewoffhiscoat，andbeganwindinghishomespunsuspendersabouthiswaist。

Watchinghimclosely，Jasperdidthesame。

Thefiringbelowhadceased。Aflockofmountainvulturesweresailingingreatcirclesoverthethickwoods。TwoeaglessweptstraightfromtherimofthesunaboveWolf’sHead，beatingoveraturbulentseaofmistforthecliffs，scarcelyfiftyyardsabovetheledge，whereapine—treegrewbetweentworocks。Attheinstantoflighting，theywheeledaway，eachwithawarningscreamtotheother。Afigurelyingflatbehindthepinehadfrightenedthem，andnowafacepeepedtooneside，flushedwitheagernessoverthecomingfight。Bothwerereadynow，andtheLewallengrewsuddenlywhiteasRometurnedagainandreacheddownfortheguns。

"IreckonI’llput’emaleetlefurderouto’theway，"hesaid，kickingtheknifeoverthecliff；and，standingonastone，hethrustthemintoacrevicehighabovehishead。

"Now，Jas，we’llfightthisgredgeout，asourgrandadshavedoneaforeus。"

LewallenandStetsonweremantomanatlast。Suspicionwasgonenow，andashort，brutallaughcamefromthecliff。

"I’llfightye!Oh，byGod，I’llfightye!"

TheringofthevoicestruckanansweringgleamfromRome’sgrayeyes，andthetwosprangforeachother。Itwaslikethestruggleofprimevalmenwhohadnotyetlearnedeventheuseofclubs。Foraninstantbothstoodclose，liketwowildbeastscrouchedforaspring，andcirclingabouttogetateachother’sthroats，withmouthsset，eyeswatchingeyes，andhandstwitchingnervously。

YoungJasperleapedfirst，andtheStetson，waryofclosingwithhim，shrankback。Therewereafewquick，heavyblows，andtheLewallenwasbeatenawaywithbloodathislips。Theneachknewtheadvantageoftheother。TheStetson’sreachwaslonger；theLewallenwasshorterandheavier，andagainheclosedin。AgainRomesentouthislongarm。AturnofJasper’sheadlettheheavyfistpassoverhisshoulder。TheforceoftheblowdroveRomeforward；thetwoclinched，andJasper’sarmstightenedabouttheStetson’swaist。WithaquickgaspforbreathRomeloosedhishold，and，bendinghisenemy’sheadbackwithonehand，rainedblowafterblowinhisfacewiththeother。Oneterriblestrokeonthejaw，andJasper’sarmswereloosed；thetwofellapart，theonestunned，theotherbreathless。Onedazedmomentonly，andforathirdtimetheLewallencameon。Romehadbeenfightingaman；

nowhefacedademon。Jasper’sbrowsstoodoutlikebristles，andtheeyesunderthemwereredandfiercelikeamadbull’s。AgainRome’sblowsfell，butagaintheLewallenreachedhim，andthistimehegothisfaceundertheStetson’schin，—’idtheheavyfistfelluponthebackofhishead，anduponhisneck，asuponwoodandleather。AgainRomehadtogaspforbreath，andagainthetwowerefiercelylocked—theircordedarmsastenseasserpents。

Aroundandaroundtheywhirled，straining，tripping，breakingthesilenceonlywithdeep，quickbreathsandthestampingoffeet，Jasperfirmontherock，andRome’sagilitysavinghimfrombeingliftedintheairandtossedfromthecliff。Therewasnopauseforrest。Itwasastruggletotheend，andaquickone；andunderstressofexcitementthefigureatthepine—treehadrisentohisknees—

jumpingeventohisfeetinplainview，whentheshort，strongarmsoftheLewallenbeganatlasttodrawRomecloserstill，andtobendhimbackward。TheStetsonwasgivingwayatlast。TheLewallen’svindictivefacegrewblacker，andhiswhiteteethshowedbetweenhissnarlinglipsashefastenedonelegbehindhisenemy’s，and，withchinagainsthisshoulder，benthimslowly，slowlyback。Thetwobreathedinshort，painfulgasps；theirswollenmusclestrembledunderthestrainaswithague。Back—

back—theStetsonwasfalling；heseemedalmostdown，when—thetrickisanoldone—whirlingwiththequicknessoflight，hefellheavilyonhisopponent，andcaughthimbythethroatwithbothhands。

"’Nough？"heasked，hoarsely。Itwasthefirstworduttered。

Theonlyanswerwasafiercestruggle。RomefelttheLewallen’steethsinkinginhisarm，andhisfingerstightenedliketwistingsteel，tillJaspercaughthisbreathasthoughstranglingtodeath。

"’Nough？"askedthehoarsevoiceagain。

Noanswer；tighterclinchedthefingers。TheLewallenshookhisheadfeebly；hispurplefacepaledsuddenlyasRomeloosedhishold，andhislipsmovedinawhisper。

"’Nough!"

Romerosedizzilytooneknee。Jasperturned，gasping，andlaywithhisfacetotherock。Forawhilebothwerequiet，Rome，pantingwithopenmouthandwhitewithexhaustion，lookingdownnowandthenattheLewallen，whosefacewasturnedawaywithshame。

ThesunwasblazingaboveWolf’sHeadnow，andthestillnessaboutthemlayunbrokenonthewoodsbelow。

"I’vewhoopedye，Jas，"Romesaid，atlast；"I’vewhoopedyeinafa’rfight，’n’I’vegotnothin’nowtosay’boutyertalltalk，’n’I

reckonyouhevn’tnuther。Now，hit’sunderstood，hain’tit，thaty’u’llleavethesemount’ins？

Y’ukingoWest，"hecontinued，astheLewallendidnotanswer。"

UncleRufeusedtosaythar’sagooddealtodooutthar，’n’nobodyaxesquestions。Thar’snobodylefthyehbutyou’n’me，butthesemount’inswasneverbig’noughferoneLewallen’n’oneStetson，’n’

you’vegottogo。Ireckonyewon’tbelieveme，butI’mgladIdidn’thevtokillye。Butyou’vepromisedtogo，now，’n’I’lltakeyerwordferit。"Heturnedhisface，andtheLewallen，knowingitfromthesoundofhisvoice，sprangtohisfeet。

"Oh—!"

AwildcurseburstfromRome’slips，andbothleapedfortheguns。

TheLewallenhadthestartofafewfeet，andRome，lamedinthefight，stumbledandfell。BeforehecouldriseJasperhadwhirled，withoneoftheWinchestersabovehisheadandhisfaceaflamewithfury。Askingnomercy，Romehidhisfacewithonearmandwaited，strickenfaintallatonce，andnumb。Onereportstruckhisears，muffled，whip—like。AdullwondercametohimthattheLewallencouldhavemissedatsuchcloserange，andhewaitedforanother。Someoneshouted—ashrillhallo。Aloudlaughfollowed；alightseemedbreakingbeforeRome’seyes，andheliftedhishead。

Jasperwasonhisfaceagain，motionless；andSteveMarcum’stallfigurewasclimbingoverabowldertowardhim。

"ThatwasthebestfightI’veseedinmytime，byGod，"hesaid，coolly，"’n’，Rome，y’uairthebiggestfoolthissideo’thesettlements，Ireckon。Ihaddeadaimonhim，’n’Iwasjesta—thinkin’hitwasapurtygoodthingferyouthatoldlong—nosedJimStoverchasedmeuphyeh，when，damnme，efthatboyupthardidn’tlethisolegunloose。I’da—gotJasmyselfefhehadn’tbeensoall—firedquicko’trigger。"

Upattherootofthepine—treeIsomstoodmotionless，withhislongrifleinonehandandalittlecloudofsmokebreakingabovehiswhiteface。WhenRomelookeduphestarteddownwithoutaword。Steveswunghimselfovertheledge。

"Iheerdtheshootin’，"saidtheboy，"uptharatthecave，’n’I

couldn’tstaythar。Iknowedyecouldwhoophim，Rome，’n’IseedSteve，too，butIwasafeard—"Thenhesawthebody。Histonguestopped，hisfaceshrivelled，andSteve，hangingwithonehandtotheledge，watchedhimcuriously。

"Rome，"saidtheboy，inaquickwhisper，"ishedaid？

"Comeon!"saidSteve，roughly。"They’llbeuphyehatterusinaminute。LeaveJas’sgunthar，’n’sendthatboybackhome。"

Thatdaythetroopscame—youngBlueGrassKentuckians。Thatnight，withinthecircleoftheircamp—fires，alastdefiancewascastintheteethoflawandorder。Flamesrosewithintheoldcourt—

house，andbeforemidnightthemoonlightfellonfourblackwalls。

Thatnight，too，thenewsofyoungJasper’sfatewascarriedtothedeath—bedofRome’smother，andbeforedaytheoldwomanpassedinpeace。ThatdayStetsonsandLewallensdisbanded。TheLewallenshadnoleader；theStetsons，noenemiestofight。Somehid，someleftthemountains，somegavethemselvesupfortrial。

UponRomeStetsontheburdenfell。Againsthimthelawwasset。

Apricewasputonhishead，hishousewasburned—alastactofLewallenhate—andRomewashomeless，thelastofhisrace，andanoutlaw。

XIII

WITHthestartofafewhoursandthesympathyofhispeopleonemountaineercandefythearmyoftheUnitedStates；andthemountaineersusuallylaughwhentheyheartroopsarecoming。Forthetimetheystopfightingandhideinthewoods；andwhenthesoldiersaregone，theycomeoutagain，andbeginanewtheirlittlepleasantries。Butthesoldierscanprotectthejudgeonhisbenchandthecounty—seatintimeofcourt，andforthesepurposestheyservewell。

ThesearchforRomeStetson，then，wasuseless。Hisfriendswouldaidhim；hisenemiesfearedtobetrayhim。Sothesoldiersmarchedawayonemorning，andtooktheirprisonersforsafe—

keepingintheBlueGrass，untilcourtshouldopenatHazlan。

Meantime，springcameanddeepened—themountainspring。Theberriesofthewintergreengrewscarce，andRomeStetson，"hidingout，"asthephraseis，hadtoseekthemonthcnorthemfaceofthemountains。Themossonthenakedwintertreesbrightenedincolor，andalongtheriver，wherewillowsdrooped，ranfaintlinesofgreen。Thetrailingarbutusgaveoutdelicatepinkblossoms，andthesouthwindblewapartthepetalsoftheanemone。Soonvioletsunfoldedabovethedeadleaves；azaleasswungtheiryellowtrumpetsthroughtheundergrowth；over—head，thedogwoodtosseditssnow—flakesinguststhroughthegreenandgoldofnewleavesandsunlight；andhigherstillwavedthepoplarblooms，withhoneyreadyoneverycrimsonheartforthebees。DowninthevalleyRomeStetsoncouldseeabouteverylittlecabinpinkcloudsandwhitecloudsofpeachandofappleblossoms。Amidthefernsabouthimshade—lovingtrilliumsshowedtheirmany—huedfaces，andeveryopeningwasthicklypeopledwithlarkspurseekingthesun。

Thegiantmagnoliaandtheumbrella—treespreadtheirgreatcreamyflowers；thelaurelshookoutmyriadsofpinkandwhitebells，andthequeenofmountainflowerswasstirringfromsleepinthebudsoftherhododendron。

Withthespringnewforcespulsedthemountainair。ThespiritofthetimesreachedevenHazlan。Arailroadwascominguptheriver，sotherumorwas。Whenwinterbroke，surveyorshadappeared；afterthem，miningexpertsandpurchasersofland。Newwaysofbread—makingwereopentoall，andthefeudsmanbegantoseethathecouldmakefoodandclothesmoreeasilyandwithlessdangerthanbysleepingwithhisrifleinthewoods，andbyfightingmenwhohaddonehimnoharm。Manyweretiredoffighting；

many，forcedintothefeud，hadfoughtunwillingly。Othershadsoldtheirfarmsandwildlands，andweremovingtowardtheBlueGrassorwestward。Thedesperadoesofeachfactionhadfledthelaworwereinitsclutches。ThelastLewallenwasdead；thelastStetsonwashiddenawayinthemountains。TherewereleftMareumsandBraytons，butonlythosewhofeltsafestfromindictment；intheseaspiritofhostilitywouldliveforyears，and，rousedbypassionorbydrink，woulddomurdernowononesideoftheCumberlandandnowontheother；buttheStetson—Lewallenfeud，oldGabebelieved，wasatanendatlast。

AllthesethingsthemillertoldRomeStetson，whowellknewwhattheymeant。Hewassafeenoughfromthelawwhilethepeopletooknopartinhiscapture，buthegrewapprehensivewhenhelearnedofthechangesgoingoninthevalley。NonebutoldGabeknewwherehewas，tobesure，butwithhisownenemiestoguidethesoldiershecouldnothopetoremainhiddenlong。Still，withthatloveofthemountainscharacteristicofallracesbornamongthem，heclungtohisownland。Hewouldratherstaywherehewasthespaceofayearanddie，hetoldoldGabepassionately，thanlivetooldageinanotherState。

Buttherewasanothermotive，andhedidnothideit。Ontheothersidehehadoneenemyleft—thelast，too，ofherrace—whowasmoretohimthanhisowndeadkindred，whohatedhim，whoplacedathisdoorallhersorrows。Forherhewaslivinglikeawolfinacave，andoldGabeknewit。Her—hewouldnotleave。

"Itellye，Rome，you’vegottogo。Thar’snousetalkin’。CourtcomesthefustMondayinJune。Thesoldiersullbehyeh。Hitwon’tbesafe。Thar’ssomethats’picionsIknowwharyeairnow，’n’

they’llbespyin’，’n’mebbehit’llgitmeintotrouble，too，aidin’’n’

abettin’amantogitawaywhoairboun’tothelaw。"

Thetwoweresittingontheearthenfloorofthecavebeforealittlefire，andRome，withhishandsabouthiskneesandhisbrowsknitted，wasstaringintotheyellowblaze。Hisunshornhairfelltohisshoulders；hisfacewaspalefrominsufficientfoodandexercise，andtensewithalookthatwasatoncecagedanddefiant。

"UncleGabe，"heasked，quietly，fortheoldman’stonewasalittlequerulous，"airyesorryyeholpedme？DoyeblamemeferwhutI’vedone？"

"No，"saidtheoldmiller，answeringbothquestions；"Idon’t。I

believewhutyetol’me。Though，evenefyehad’a’doneit，Idon’tknowasI’dblameye，seem’thatitwasafa’rfight。Idon’tdoubthewasdoin’hisbesttokillyou。"

Rometurnedquickly，hisfacepuzzledanddarkening。

UncleGabe，whutairyoudrivin’at？"Theoldmanspatintothefire，andshiftedhispositionuneasily，asRome’shandcaughthisknee。

Well，efIhavetotellye，Is’poseImust。Thar’sbeennothin’

perticklerag’inyesofer，’ceptferbreakin’thatconfederatin’statute’boutbandin’fightin’mentogether；’n’nobodywasveryanxioustogithol’o’yejesferthat，butnow"—theoldmanstoppedamoment，forRome’seyeswerekindling—"theysaythatyekilledJasLewallen，’n’thatyeairamurderer；’n’hitairpowerfulstrangehowallofasuddintfolksseemtobegittin’downonamanaskillshisfellow—creetur；’n’nowtheymeanstohuntyetiltheyketchye。"

Itwasalloutnow，andtheoldmanwasrelieved。Romerosetohisfeet，andinsheeragonyofspiritpacedthefloor。

"Itol’ye，UncleGabe，thatIdidn’tkillhim。"

Soyedid，’n’Ibelieveye。Butafellerseedyou’n’Stevecomm’

fromtheplacewharJaswasfounddead，’n’wharthedirt’n’rockwasthrowedaboutasbytwobucksinspring—time。Stevesayshedidn’tdoit，’n’hewouldn’tsayyoudidn’t。LookstomelikeStevedidthekuhn’，’n’waslyin’aleetle。Hehain’tgoin’toconfesshittosaveyourneck；’n’hecan’tnoway，ferhehevlitouto’thesemount’ins—longago。"

IfStevewasoutofdanger，suspicioncouldnotharmhim，andRomesaidnothing。

"Isom’sgotthelingerin’feverag’in，’n’he’sout"ihishead。He’sravin’’boutthatfight。Lookslikeyetol’him’boutit。Hesays，’Don’ttellUncleGabe’；’n’hekeepssayin’it。Hit’ll’mostkillhimefyougo’way；buthewantsyetogitouto’themount’ins；’n’，Rome，you’vegottogo。"

"Whowasit，UncleGabe，thatseedme’n’Stevecomm’’wayfromthar？

Heairthesamefellerwhohevbeenspyin’yeallthetimethiswar’sbeengoin’on；hit’sthatdried—faced，snakyEliCrump，whoyeknockeddown’n’chokedupinHazlanonedayfersayin’

somethingag’inIsom。"

"Iknowedit—Iknowedit—oh，efIcouldgitmyfingersroun’histhroatoncemore—jesoncemore—I’dbe’mos’readytodie。"

Hestretchedouthishandsashestrodebackandforth，withhisfingerscrookedliketalons；hisshadowleapedfromwalltowall，andhisvoice，fillingthecave，was，forthemoment，scarcelyhuman。TheoldmanwaitedtilltheparoxysmwasoverandRomehadagainsunkbeforethefire。

"Hit’u’ddonogood，Rome，"hesaid，risingtogo。"You’vegotenoughonyenow，withoutthesino’takin’hislife。Youbettermakeupyermindtoleavethemountinsnowright’way。You’rea—gittin’nomore’nhalf—human，livin’uphyehlikeacatamount。I

don’tseehowyekinstandit。Thar’snohopeo’thingsblowin’over，boy，’n’givin’yeachanceo’comm’outag’in，asyerdadandyergrandadusentodoaforeye。Thecitizensairgittin’tiredo’thesewars。Theykeepsoutthefurrinerswhomakesroads’n’buyslands；

theyairag’in’thelaw，ag’in’religion，ag’in’yo’pocket，’n’ag’in’

mine。Lotso’folkshevbeenag’in’allthisfightin’feralongtime，buttheywastooskeerytosayso。Theyairtalkin’mightybignow，seem’theykingitsoldiershyehtopertect’em。Soyemoughtaswellgiveuptheideao’stayinghyeh，’less’nyewanttogiveyourselfuptothelaw。"

Thetwosteppedfromthecave，andpassedthroughtherhododendronstilltheystoodonthecliffoverlookingthevalley。

Therichlightlaylikeagoldenmistbetweenthemountains，andthroughit，fardown，therivermoanedlikethewindofacomingstorm。

DidyetellthegalwhutItol’ye？"

"Yes，Rome；hitwasn’tnouse。ShesaysSteve’sword’sasgoodasyourn；’n’sheknowedaboutthecrosses。Folkssayshesworeawfulag’in’yeatyoungJas’sburial，’lowin’thatshe’dhuntyedownherse’f，efthesoldiersdidn’tketchye。Ihain’tseedhersenceshegotsick；’pearslikeever’body’ssick。Mebbeshe’saleetlesettleddownnow—notellin’。Nousefoolin’withher，Rome。Yougitawayfromhyeh。Don’tyouworry’boutIsom—I’lltakekeero’him，’n’

whenhegitswell，he’llwanttocomeatterye，’n’I’lllethimgo。Hecouldn’tlivehyehwithoutyou。Buty’umustgitaway，Rome，’n’

gitawaymightyquick。"

Withhandsclaspedbehindhim，Romestoodandwatchedthebentfigureslowlypickitswayaroundthestonycliff。

"IreckonI’vegottogo。She’sag’in’me；they’reallag’in’me。I

reckonI’vejesgottogo。Somehow，I’vebeenkinderhopin’—"Heclosedhislipstocheckthegroanthatrosetothem，andturnedagainintothegloombehindhim。

XIV

JUNEcame。Thewildroseswayedaboveitsimagealongeverylittleshadowedstream，andthescentofwildgrapeswassweetintheairandasvagrantasabluebird’snoteinautumn。Therhododendronsburstintobeauty，makinggrayridgeandgraycliffblossomwithpurple，hedgingstreamswithsnowyclustersandshiningleaves，andlightingupdarkcovertsinthewoodsaswithwhitestars。Theleaveswerefull，woodthrushessang，andbeesdronedlikeunseenrunningwaterinthewoods。

WithJunecamecircuitcourtoncemore—andthesoldiers。FaintmusicpiercedthedreamychantoftheriveronemorningasRomelayonabowlderinthesummersun；andhewatchedthegunsflashinglikeanotherstreamalongthewater，andthenlookedagaintotheLewallencabin。Never，morning，noon，ornight，whenhecamefromtherhododendrons，orwhentheyclosedabouthim，didhefailtoturnhiseyesthatway。Oftenhewouldseeabrightspeckmovingaboutthedimlinesofthecabin，andhewouldscarcelybreathewhilehewatchedit，soeasilywoulditdisappear。AlwayshehadthoughtitwasMartha，andnowheknewitwas，fortheoldmillerhadtoldhimmoreofthegirl，andhadwrunghisheartwithpity。Shehadbeenillalongwhile。The"furriners"hadseizedoldJasper’scahinandland。Thegirlwashomeless，andshedidnotknowit，fornoonehadthehearttotellher。ShewaslivingwiththeBraytons；andeverydayshewenttothecabin，"moonin’’n’

sorrowin’aroun’，"asoldGabesaid；andshewasmuchchanged。

Oncemorethemillercame—forthelasttime，hesaid，firmly。

Crumphadtrailedhim，andhadlearnedwhereRomewas。Thesearchwouldbeginnextday—perhapsthatverynight—andCrumpwouldguidethesoldiers。Nowhemustgo，andgoquickly。Theboy，too，sentwordthatunlessRomewent，hewouldhavesomethingtotell。OldGabesawnosignificanceinthemessage；

buthehadpromisedtodeliverit，andhedid。Romewaveredthen；

Steveandhimselfgone，nosuspicionwouldfallonthelad。Ifhewerecaught，theboymightconfess。WithsilenceRomegaveassent，andthetwopartedinanapathythatwaslikeheartlessness。

OnlyoldGabe’sshrunkenbreastheavedwithsomethingmorethanwearinessofdescent，andRomestoodwatchinghimalongtimebeforeheturnedbacktothecavethathadshelteredhimfromhisenemiesamongbeastsandmen。Inamomenthecameoutforthelasttime，andturnedtheoppositeway。Climbingaboutthespur，hemadeforthepaththatleddowntotheriver。Whenhereacheditheglancedatthesun，andstoppedinindecision。Straightabovehimwasaknoll，massedwithrhododendrons，theflashingleavesofwhichmadeitlikeagreatsea—waveintheslantingsun，whilethebloomsbrokeslowlydownoveritlikefoam。Abovethiswasagraysepulchreofdead，standingtrees，moregauntandspectre—likethanever，withtherichlifeofsummeraboutit。Higherstillwereadarkbeltofstuntedfirsandthesandstoneledge，andabovethese—home。Hewasriskinghisliberty，hislife。AnyclumpofbushesmightbristlesuddenlywithWinchesters。Ifthesoldierssoughtforhimatthecavetheywouldatthesametimeguardthemountainpaths；theywouldguard，too，theStetsoncabin。Butnomatter—thesunwasstillhigh，andheturnedupthesteep。Theledgepassed，hestoppedwithacurseathislipsandthepainofaknife—thrustathisheart。Aheapofblackenedstonesandasheswasbeforehim。Thewildmountain—grasswasgrowingupaboutit。

Thebee—gumswereoverturnedandrifled。Thegardenwasatangledmassofweeds。Thegravesinthelittlefamilyburying—groundwereunprotected，thefencewasgone，andnoboardsmarkedthelasttworaggedmounds。OldGabehadnevertoldhim。He，too，likeMartha，washomeless，andtheoldmillerhadbeenkindtohim，asthegirl’skinspeoplehadbeentoher。

Foralongwhilehesatontheremnantoftheburnedandbrokenfence，andoncemoretheoldtideofbitternessrosewithinhimandebbedaway。Therewerenonelefttohate，towreakvengeanceon。

Itwashardtoleavetheruinsastheywere；andyethewouldratherleaveweedsandashesthan，likeMartha，havesomedaytoknowthathishomewasinthehandsofastranger。Whenhethoughtofthegirlhegrewcalmer；hisownsorrowsgavewaytothethoughtofhers；andhalffromhabitheraisedhisfacetolookacrosstheriver。TwoeaglessweptfromadarkravineundertheshelfofrockwherehehadfoughtyoungJasper，andmadeforasun—lightedpeakontheothershore。FromthemhisgazefelltoWolf’sHeadandtothecabinbeneath，andanamepassedhislipsinawhisper。

Thenhetookthepathtotheriver，andhefoundthecanoewhereoldGabehadhiddenit。Beforetheyoungmoonrosehepushedintothestreamanddriftedwiththecurrent。AtthemouthofthecreekthatranoveroldGabe’swater—wheelheturnedtheprowtotheLewallenshore。

Notyit!Notyit!"hesaid。

XV

THATnightRomepassedinthewoods，withhisrifle，inabedofleaves。Beforedaybreakhehadbuiltafireinadeepravinetocookhisbreakfast，andhadscatteredtheembersthatthesmokeshouldgivenosign。

ThesunwashighwhenhecreptcautiouslyinsightoftheLewallencabin。Itwasmuchlikehisownhomeontheothershore，exceptthatthehouse，closedanddesolate，wasstanding，andthebeeswerebusy。Atthecornerofthekitchenarustyaxewasstickinginahalf—cutpieceoftimber，andontheporchwasaheapofkindlingandfirewood—thelastworkoldJasperandhissonhadeverdone。IntheLewallens’garden，also，twograveswerefresh；

andthespiritofneglectandruinoverhungtheplace。

Allthemorninghewaitedintheedgeofthelaurel，peeringdownthepath，watchingthecloudsracewiththeirshadowsoverthemountains，orpacingtoandfroinhiscovertofleavesandflowers。

Hebegantofearatlastthatshewasnotcoming，thatshewasill，andoncehestarteddownthemountaintowardSteveBrayton’scabin。Theswiftdescentbroughthimtohissenses，andhestoppedhalf—way，andclimbedbackagaintohishiding—place。

Whathewasdoing，whathemeanttodo，hehardlyknew。Mid—daypassed；thesunfelltowardthemountains，andoncemorecamethefierceimpulsetoseeher，eventhoughhemuststalkintotheBraytoncabin。Again，half—crazed，hestartedimpetuouslythroughthebrush，andshrankback，andstoodquiet。Alittlenoisedownthepathhadreachedhisear。Inamomenthecouldhearslowfoot—falls，andthefigureofthegirlpartedthepink—and—whitelaurelblossoms，whichfellinashoweraboutherwhenshebrushedthroughthem。Shepassedquitenearhim，walkingslowly，andstoppedforamomenttorestagainstapillaroftheporch。Shewasverypale；herfacewastraceddeepwithsuffering，andshewas，asoldGabesaid，muchchanged。Thenshewentontowardthegarden，steppingwithaneffortoverthelowfence，andleanedasifweakandtiredagainsttheapple—tree，theboughsofwhichshadedthetwogravesatherfeet。Forafewmomentsshestoodthere，listless，andRomewatchedherwithhungryeyes，atalosswhattodo。Shemovedpresently，andwalkedquitearoundthegraveswithoutlookingatthem；thencamebackpasthim，and，seatingherselfintheporch，turnedherfacetotheriver。Thesunlightedherhair，andinthesunken，upturnedeyesRomesawtheshimmeroftears。

"Marthy!"Hecouldn’thelpit—thethick，lowcrybrokelikeagroanfromhislips，andthegirlwasonherfeet，facinghim。Shedidnotknowthevoice，northeshaggy，half—wildfigureintheshadeofthelaurel；andshestartedbackasiftorun；butseeingthatthemandidnotmeantoharmher，shestopped，lookingforamomentwithwonderandevenwithquickpityatthehuntedfacewithitswhiteappeal。Thenasuddenspasmcaughtherthroat，andleftherbodyrigid，herhandsshut，andhereyesdryandhard—sheknewhim。A

slowpallordrovetheflushofsurprisefromherface，andherlipsmovedonce，buttherewasnotevenawhisperfromthem。Romeraisedonehandbeforehisface，asthoughtowardoffsomething。"

Don’tlookatmcthatway，Marthy—myGod，don’t!Ididn’tkillhim。

Isw’arit!Igivehimachanceferhislife。Iknow，Iknow—Stevesayshedidn’t。Tharwasonlyustwo。Hitlooksag’in’me；butI

hain’tkilledonenurt’other。Ilet’embothgo。Y’udon’tbelieveme？

"Hewentswiftlytowardher，hisgunoutstretched。Hyeh，gal!I

heerdyesworeag’in’meouttharinthegyarden—’lowin’thatyouwasgoin’tohuntmedownyerselfifthesoldiersdidn’t。Hyeh’syerchance!

Thegirlshrankawayfromhim，toostartledtotaketheweapon；

andheleaneditagainsther，andstoodaway，withhishandsbehindhim。

KillmeefyethinkI’ma—lyin’toye，"hesaid。"Y’ukingitevenwithmenow。ButIwanttotellyefust"—thegirlhadcaughtthemuzzleofthegunconvulsively，andwasbendingoverit，hereyesburning，herfaceinscrutable—hitwasafa’rfightbetwixtus，’n’Iwhoopedhim。Hegothisgunthen，’n’would’a’killedmeag’in’hisoathefhehadn’tbeenshotfustHit’sso，too，’boutthecrosses。Imade’em；

they’rerighttharonthatgun；butwhutcouldIdowithmama—standin’righttharwiththegun’n’UncleRufea—tellin’’boutmyowndadlayin’inhisblood，’n’Isom’n’theboyslookin’on!ButI

wentag’in’myoath；IgavehimhislifewhenIhadtherighttotakeit。Icould’a’killedyerdadonce，’n’Ihadtherighttokillhim，too，ferkillin’mine；butIlethimgo，’n’IreckonIdonethatferye，too。

’PearslikeIhain’tdonenothin’senceIseedyeovertharinthemillthatdaythatwasn’tdoneferye。Somehowyeputmedeadag’in’

myownkin，’n’tukawayallmyhateag’in’yourn。Icouldn’tfightferthinkin’Iwasfightin’you，’n’whenIseedyecomm’throughthebushesjesnow，sowhite’n’sickly—like，Icouldn’thardlygitbreath，a—thinkin’Iwasthecauseofallyermisery。That’sall!"Hestretchedouthisarms。Shoot，gal，efyedon’tbelieveme。I’djesaslievedie，efyethinksI’mlyin’toye，’n’efyehatesmeferwhutI

hain’tdone。"

Thegunhadfallentotheearth。Thegirl，tremblingattheknees，sanktoherseatontheporch，and，foldingherarmsagainstthepillar，pressedherforeheadagainstthem，herfaceunseen。Romestoopedtopickuptheweapon。

"I’mgoin’’waynow，"hewenton，slowly，afteralittlepause，"butI

couldn’tleavehyehwithoutseem’you。Iwantedyetoknowthetruth，’n’I’lowedy’u’dbelievemeefItol’yemyself。I’vebeena—waitin’tharinthelorrelferyesencemornin’。UncleGabetol’meyecomehyehever’day。HesaysI’vegottogo。I’vebeenhopin’I

moughtcomeouto’thebushessomeday。ButUncleGabesaysever’body’sag’in’memore’never，’n’thatthesoldiersmeantoketchme。Thegov’nerouttharinthesettlementssaysashowhe’llgivefivehundreddollarsferme，livin’ordead。He’llnuvergitmelivin’—I’vesworethat—’n’asIhevdonenothin’sechasfolksonbothsideshevdonewhoairwalkin’roun’free，Ihain’tgoin’togiveup。

Hit’spurtyhardtoleavethesemount’ins。ReckonI’llnuversee’emag’in。Beenlivin’likeacatamountovertharontheknob。Icouldjesseeyouoverhyeh，’n’IreckonIhain’tdonemuch’ceptlayovertharonarock’n’watchyemovin’round。Hit’smightygoodtofeelthatyebelieveme，’n’IwantyetoknowthatIbeenstayin’overtharfernothin’onearthbutjestoseeyouag’in；’n’IwantyetoknowthatIwasa—sorrowin’feryewheny’uwassick，’n’a—pinin’toseeye，’n’a—hopin’somedayy’umoughtkindergitoveryerhateferme。"Hehadbeentalkingwithlowtenderness，halftohimself，andwithhisfacetotheriver，andhedidnotseethegirl’stearsfallingtotheporch。Hersorrowgavewayinagreatsobnow，andheturnedwithsharpremorse，andstoodquitenearher。

"Don’tcry，Marthy，"hesaid。"Godknowshit’shardtothinkI’vebroughtallthisonyewhenI’dgiveallthesemount’instosaveyefromit。Whutd’yesay？Don’tcry。"

Thegirlwastryingtospeakatlast，andRomebentovertocatchthewords。

"Ihain’tcryin’fermyself，"shesaid，faintly，andthenshesaidnomore；butthefirstsmilethathadpassedoverRome’sfaceformanyadaypassedthen，andheputoutonebighand，andletitrestontheheapoflustroushair。

"Marthy，Ihatetogo’way，leavin’yehyehwithnobodytotakekeero’ye。You’reallalonehyehinthemount’ins；I’mallalone；’n’I

reckonI’llbeallalonewhareverIgo，efyoustayhyeh。Igotaboatdowntharontheriver，’n’I’mgoin’outWestwharUncleRufeusetolive。IknowIhain’tgoodfernothin’much"—hespokealmosthuskily；hecouldscarcelygetthewordstohislips—"butIwantyetogowithme。Won’tye？"

Thegirldidnotanswer，buthersobbingceasedslowly，whileRomestrokedherhair；andatlastsheliftedherface，andforamomentlookedtotheothershore。Thensherose。ThereisastrangeprideintheKentuckymountaineer。

"Asyousay，Rome，thar’snobodyleftbutyou，’n’nobodybutme；

buttheyburnedyouout，wehain’teven—yit。"HereyeswereonThunderstruckKnob，wherethelastsunlightusedtotouchtheStetsoncabin。

"Hyeh，Rome!"Heknewwhatshemeant，andhekneeledatthepileofkindling—woodnearthekitchendoor。Thentheystoodbackandwaited。Thesundippedbelowagapinthemountains，theskydarkened，andtheflamesrosetotheshingledporch，andleapedintothegatheringdusk。Ontheouteredgeofthequiveringlight，whereittouchedtheblossomedlaurel，thetwostoodtilltheblazecaughttheeavesofthecabin；andthentheyturnedtheirfaceswhere，burningtoashesinthewest，wasanotherfire，whoselightblendedintheeyesofeachwithalightolderandmorelastingthanitsown—thelighteternal。