speak to yo' mother; I
'low she'll trim you! I reckon you-all don't want me to call her? No, by
thunderation!--because you-all know she won't stand no nonsense! She'll
fan you; she'll take the flat of her hand to you-all and make you skip
some; I reckon I'd get into my pants befo' she starts on the warpath. I
wouldn't give her no such special opportunity as you're offerin'!"
Mr. Cavendish's voice and manner had become entirely confidential and
sympathetic, and though fear of their mother could not be said to bulk
high on their horizon, yet the small Cavendishes were persuaded by sheer
force of his logic to withdraw and dress. Their father hurried back to
Yancy.

"I was just thinkin', sir," he said, "that if it would be any comfort to
you, we'll tie up to the bank right here and wait until you can travel.
I'm powerfully annoyed at having fetched you all this way!"

But Yancy shook his head.

"I'll be glad to go on to Memphis with you. If my nevvy got away from
Murrell, that's where I'll find him. I reckon folks will be kind to him
and sort of help him along. Why, he ain't much mo' than knee high!"

"Shore they will! there's a lot of good in the world, so don't you fret
none about him!" cried Polly.

"I can't do much else, ma'am, than think of him bein' lonesome and
hungry, maybe--and terribly frightened. What do you-all suppose he
thought when he woke up and found me gone?" But neither Polly nor her
husband had any opinion to venture on this point. "If I don't find him
in Memphis I'll take the back track to No'th Carolina, stoppin' on the
way to see that man Slosson."

"Well, I 'low there's a fit comin' to him when he gets sight of you!"
and Cavendish's bleached blue eyes sparkled at the thought.

"There's a heap mo' than a fit. I don't bear malice, but I stay mad a
long time," answered Yancy grimly:

"You shouldn't talk no mo'," said Polly. "You must just lay quiet
and get yo' strength back. Now, I'm goin' to fix you a good meal of
vittles." She motioned Cavendish to follow her, and they both withdrew
from the shanty.

Yancy closed his eyes, and presently, lulled by the soft ripple that
bore them company, fell into a restful sleep.

"When he told us of his nevvy, Dick, and I got to thinkin' of his bein'
just the age of our Richard, I declare it seemed like something got in
my throat and I'd choke. Do you reckon he'll ever find him?" said Polly,
as she busied herself with preparations for their breakfast.