thought: "I'll slip by you to-morrow and make another raid on Hog
Mountain, and compel that high-tempered girl to tell me what she means
by troubling me so."

A train of cars ran puffing and roaring under the bridge, and as
Woodward turned to follow it with his eye he saw standing upon the
other side a tall, gaunt, powerful-looking man, whom he instantly
recognised as Teague Poteet. Teague wore the air of awkward,
recklessly-helpless independence which so often deceives those who
strike the mountain men for a trade. Swiftly crossing the bridge,
Woodward seized Teague and greeted him with a cordiality that amounted
to enthusiasm.

"Well, of all the world, old man, you are the one I most wanted to
see." Teague's thoughts ran with grim directness to a reward that had
been offered for a certain grey old Moonshiner who had made his
headquarters on Hog Mountain. "How are all at home?" Woodward went on,
"and what is the news?"

"The folks is porely and puny," Teague replied, "an' the news won't
skacely b'ar relatin'. I hain't a-denyin'," he continued, rubbing his
chin and looking keenly at the other, "I hain't a-denyin' but what I'm
a-huntin' airter you, an' the business I come on hain't got much
howdyin' in it. Ef you uv got some place er nuther wher' ever'body
hain't a-cockin' up the'r years at us, I'd like to pass some words wi'
you."

"Why, of course," exclaimed Woodward, hooking his arm in Teague's.
"We'll go to my room. Come! And after we get through, if you don't say
that my business with you is more important than your business with me,
then I'll agree to carry you to Hog Mountain on my back. Now that's a
fair and reasonable proposition. What do you say?"

Woodward spoke with unusual warmth, and there was a glow of boyish
frankness in his tone and manners that Teague found it hard to resist.

"Well, they's thes this much about it," he said; "my business is mighty
troublesome, an' yit hit's got to be settled up."

He had put a revolver in his pocket on account of this troublesome
business.

"So is mine troublesome," responded Woodward, laughing, and then
growing serious. "It has nearly worried me to death."

Presently they reached Woodward's room, which was up a flight of stairs
near the corner of Broad and Alabama Streets. It was a very plain
apartment, but comfortably furnished, and kept with scrupulous
neatness.

"Now, then," said Woodward, when Teague had seated himself, "I'll
settle my business, and t