lled at the Saylor home
and, telling Mary that several of the trustees objected to her keeping
the school, asked for her resignation, which she wrote out and handed
him.

* * * * *

The days were pleasant and busy ones for Cornwall. He looked forward
with pleasure, as to a vacation, when he should return to Straight Creek
and make the survey of the Brock, Helton and Saylor properties, and for
that purpose chose that delightful season in October; last harvest time
for man and beast, when the corn is ripe and the nuts loosened by the
early frost are showering upon the ground like manna for all. It is the
beginning of Indian summer, when nature, festive and placid of mood,
clothes the hills in shades of red and brown; and, fearful that man, who
is inclined to overlook nearby joys and pleasures for more distant and
less certain ones, might overlook the familiar hills, even though
freshly painted, hides her far-off attractions with a hazy curtain.

As the party came down over Salt Trace into the Straight Creek valley,
in full accord with the perfect day and as gay of heart as the trees
were gayly colored, they met Caleb going down the creek road with the
old squirrel rifle, longer of barrel than the small boy.

"Where now, hunter, just at sunset, when most hunters seek the camp?"
was Cornwall's greeting.

"I'm going down to Elhannon Howard's. Ma told me he sent pap to jail. I
shore will fix him if this gun don't bust."

"Wait a minute. That's a fine gun; let me have a look at it. It's mighty
heavy. I'll ride down with you and carry it until we get within sight of
the house. Has Elhannon any boys?"

"Yes, two."

"How old are they?"

"John is eleven; Henry is nine."

"John is a big, strong boy. I bet you are afraid of him. If you were
not, it would be great fun to beat him up with your fists or kick him in
the slats, or throw him in the creek and make him holler "'nuff." Why
not save Elhannon for your dad when he gets out? He might not want you
to do his fighting for him. Did he ask you to take a shot at old man
Howard?"

"No, I ha'int thought about that."

"You didn't say you were not afraid of John Howard."

"No, I'm not. Why?"

"If you were not afraid of him, you would leave your gun at home and
tomorrow beat him up at school."

"I believe I will go back home and beat him up at school tomorrow; but
recess will be plenty long to wait."

"Oh, we better go on; he's older and