ad not been before.

"Aunt Nancy," he said resolutely, "I'm going to leave right now and walk
down to the settlement. I've got no business to be here putting you and
the children in danger. It's a case of fool pride. They told me down at
Hepzibah that I'd be run out of the Turkey Tracks inside of three months
if I tried to set up a justice's office here. I felt sort of ashamed to
go back and face them and own up that they were right--that I had been
run out. I ought to have been too much of a man to feel that way. It
makes no difference what they say--the only thing that counts is that I
have failed."

"You let me catch you openin' that do' or steppin' yo' foot on the road
to-night!" snorted Nancy belligerently. "Why, you fool boy, don't you
know all the roads has been guarded by the Turrentines ever since they
fell out with ye? They 'lowed ye would run of course, and they aimed to
layway ye as ye went. I could have told 'em ye wasn't the runnin' kind;
but thar, what do they know about----"

She broke off suddenly, her mouth open, and stood staring with
fear-dilated eyes at Creed.

"Hello!" came the hail from outside.

Nancy let the baby slip from her arms to the floor, and the little thing
stood whimpering and rubbing her eyes, clinging to her grandmother's
skirts.

"Hush--hush!" cautioned the old woman, barely above her breath.

"Hello! Hello in thar! You better answer--we see yo' light. Hello in
thar!"

"Whose--voice--is that?" breathed old Nancy.

"It sounded like Blatch Turrentine's," Creed whispered back as softly.

"Hit do," she agreed with conviction.

Suddenly a shot rang out, and Doss Provine sat up on the edge of the bed
with a gurgle of terror. Little Buck wakened at the same instant, and ran
to his grandmother.

"I ain't scared, Granny," he asseverated, "I kin fight fer ye."

"Hush--hush!" cautioned Nancy, bending to gather in the sun-burned tow
head at her knee.

Another shot followed, and after it a voice crying,

"You've got Creed Bonbright in thar. You let him come out and talk to us,
or we'll batter yo' do' in."

"You Andy--you Jeff!" shouted the old woman in sudden rage. "Ef you want
Creed Bonbright you know whar to find him. You go away and let my do'
alone."

"You quit callin' out names, Nancy Cyard," responded the first, menacing
voice out of the darkness. "We know Bonbright's in thar, and we aim to
have him out--or burn yo' house--accordin' to yo' ruthers."

Creed had parte