ill was
gratified with a view of Mr. Blount's battered visage, and it was
conceded that his condition reflected creditably on Yancy's physical
prowess and was of a character fully to sustain that gentleman's
reputation; for while he was notoriously slow to begin a fight, he
was reputed to be even more reluctant to leave off once he had become
involved in one.

"What's all this here fuss between you and Bob Yancy?" demanded the
squire when he had administered the oath to Blount. Mr. Blount's
statement was brief and very much to the point. He had been hired by Mr.
Bladen, of Fayetteville, to go to Scratch Hill and get the boy who
had been temporarily placed in Yancy's custody at the time of General
Quintard's death.

"Stop just there!" cried the magistrate, leveling a pudgy finger at
Blount. "This here co't is already cognizant of certain facts bearing on
that p'int. The boy was left with Bob Yancy mainly because nobody else
would take him. Them's the facts. Now go on!" he finished sternly.

"I only know what Bladen told me," said Blount sullenly.

"Well, I reckon Mr. Bladen ought to feel obliged to tell the truth,"
said the squire.

"He done give me the order from the judge of the co't--I was to show it
to Bob Yancy--"

"Got that order?" demanded the squire sharply. With a smile, damaged,
but clearly a smile, Blount produced the order. "Hmm--app'inted guardeen
of the boy--" the squire was presently heard to murmur. The crowded room
was very still now, and more than one pair of eyes were turned pityingly
in Yancy's direction. When the long arm of the law reached out from
Fayetteville, where there was a real judge and a real sheriff, it
clothed itself with very special terrors. The boy looked up into Yancy's
face. That tense silence had struck a chill through his heart.

"It's all right," whispered Yancy reassuringly, smiling down upon him.
And Hannibal, comforted, smiled back, and nestled his head against his
Uncle Bob's side.

"Well, Mr. Blount, what did you do with this here order?" asked the
squire.

"I went with it to Scratch Hill," said Blount.

"And showed it to Bob Yancy?" asked the squire.

"No, he wa'n't there. But the boy was, and I took him in my buggy and
drove off. I'd got as far as the Ox Road forks when I met Yancy--"

"What happened then?--but a body don't need to ask! Looks like the law
was all you had on your side!" and the squire glanced waggishly about
the room.

"I showed Yancy the o