This was not the gobbler. The gobbler did not ride horseback. Then
the affinity of the male infant for the noble equine animal suddenly
overbore all else. In elation he smote with his soft pink hand the
glossy arched neck before him. "Dul-lup!" he arrogantly echoed Absalom's
words. And thus father and son at a single bound disappeared into woods,
and so out of sight.

*****

The savage Tim was leaning upon his rifle in the doorway, his eyes
dilated, his breath short, his whole frame trembling with excitement, as
the other men, alarmed by Evelina's screams, rushed down from the barn.

"What ails ye, Tim? Why'n't ye fire?" demanded his father.

Tim turned an agitated, baffled look upon him. "I--I mought hev hit the
baby," he faltered.

"Hain't ye got no aim, ye durned sinner?" asked Stephen, furiously.

"Bullet mought hev gone through him and struck inter the baby,"
expostulated Tim.

"An' then agin it moughtn't!" cried Stephen. "Lawd, ef _I_ hed hed the
chance!"

"Ye wouldn't hev done no differ," declared Tim.

"Hyar!" Steve caught his brother's gun and presented it to Tim's lips.
"Suck the bar'l. It's 'bout all ye air good fur."

The horses had been turned out. By the time they were caught and saddled
pursuit was evidently hopeless. The men strode in one by one, dashing
the saddles and bridles on the floor, and finding in angry expletives a
vent for their grief. And indeed it might have seemed that the Quimbeys
must have long sought a choice Kittredge infant for adoption, so far did
their bewailings discount Rachel's mourning.

"Don't cry, Eveliny," they said, ever and anon. "We-uns 'll git him back
fur ye."

But she had not shed a tear. She sat speechless, motionless, as if
turned to stone.

"Laws-a-massy, child, ef ye would jes hev b'lieved _me_ 'bout'n them
Kittredges--Abs'lom in partic'lar--ye'd be happy an' free now," said the
old man, his imagination somewhat extending his experience, for he had
had no knowledge of his son-in-law until their relationship began.

The evening wore drearily on. Now and then the men roused themselves,
and with lowering faces discussed the opportunities of reprisal, and the
best means of rescuing the child. And whether they schemed to burn the
Kittredge cabin, or to arm themselves, burst in upon their enemies,
shooting and killing all who resisted, Evelina said nothing, but stared
into the fire with unnaturally dilated eyes, her white lined face all
drawn and somehow