you varmint, that won't do here!" exclaimed the mistress of
the house, who, much against her inclination, had remained silent during
the past fifteen minutes. "It shan't be said that Jerry Swinger's ruff
couldn't protect a stranger."

"But, woman, she is my property," answered Maxwell, not a little
intimidated by the ferocious aspect of the matron.

"Do not believe him, good woman, do not believe him!" exclaimed Emily,
as she saw the woman was a little staggered by the attorney's claim.

"No, ma'am, I won't believe him," responded Mrs. Swinger, as her heart
triumphed over the argument of the lawyer.

"It matters little whether you believe me or not. Here is the bill of
sale, and, in the name of the law, I take what is mine."

The hostess was not a little perplexed by the document, and Emily
observed, with terror, that she wavered in her purpose.

"It is a gross forgery!" exclaimed Emily, with a glance of earnest
pleading, which the rough but kind-hearted woman could not resist.

"I don't care nothin' about your bill of sale! The gal is safe," said
Mrs. Swinger, with emphasis.

Maxwell, resolving to execute his design, again seized Emily by the arm,
and was on the point of hurrying her out of the cabin.

Mrs. Swinger was a stout, masculine woman, brought up in the woods, and
never fainted in her life, even in presence of an alligator or a
panther. So she had no scruples in seizing Mr. Maxwell by the nape of
the neck, and giving him a kind of double twist, which sent him reeling
into the corner of the cabin.

"I'll teach you to put your hands upon an onprotected female, you
varmint, you!" said she, and, going to the door, she screamed "Jerry"
three times, with a voice that would have done honor to a Stentor.

"Now, stranger," said she, elevating her tall form to its full height,
and, with a gesture like a queen of the Amazons, pointing to the door,
"take yourself off, or my Jerry will tote you down to the river, and
drown you like a kitten!"

Mrs. Swinger's arm fell like a tragic heroine's, and she stood proudly
contemplating the object of her wrath, perhaps hoping the attorney would
await the arrival of "her Jerry," in whose prowess she seemed to place
unlimited confidence.

Vernon, who was waiting near the vehicle he had procured, heard the loud
and angry words of the excited dame, and now approached the house to
ascertain the cause of the confusion. This redoubtable worthy had
received the reward of his