on foot were in
sight; and each was a taunt to every Stetson, and, few as they were,
the young and hot-headed wanted to go out and fight. In the afternoon
a tale-bearer had brought some of Jasper's boasts to Rome, and, made
reckless by moonshine and much brooding, he sprang up to lead them.
Steve Marcum, too, caught up his gun, but old Sam's counsel checked him,
and the two by force held Rome back. A little later the Lewallens left
town. The Stetsons, too, disbanded, and on the way home a last drop of
gall ran Rome's cup of bitterness over. Opposite Steve Brayton's cabin
a jet of smoke puffed from the bushes across the river, and a bullet
furrowed the road in front of him. That was the shot they had heard at
the mill. Somebody was drawing a dead-line, and Rome wheeled his horse
at the brink of it. A mocking yell came over the river, and a gray horse
flashed past an open space in the bushes. Rome knew the horse and
knew the yell; young Jasper was "bantering" him. Nothing maddens the
mountaineer like this childish method of insult; and telling of it, Rome
sat in a corner, and loosed a torrent of curses against young Lewallen
and his clan.

Old Gabe had listened without a word, and the strain in his face was
eased. Always the old man had stood for peace. He believed it had come
after the court-house fight, and he had hoped against hope, even
when Rufe came back to trade against old Jasper; for Rufe was big and
good-natured, and unsuspected of resolute purpose, and the Lewallens'
power had weakened. So, now that Rufe was gone again, the old miller
half believed he was gone for good. Nobody was hurt; there was a chance
yet for peace, and with a rebuke on his tongue and relief in his face,
the old man sat back in his chair and went on whittling. The boy
turned eagerly to a crevice in the logs and, trembling with excitement,
searched the other bank for Jasper's gray horse, going home.

"He called me a idgit," he said to himself, with a threatening shake of
his head. "Jes wouldn't I like to hev a chance at him! Rome ull git him!
Rome ull git him!"

There was no moving point of white on the broad face of the mountains
nor along the river road. Jasper was yet to come and, with ears alert
to every word behind him, the lad fixed his eyes where he should see him
first.

"Oh, he didn't mean to hit me. Not that he ain't mean enough to shoot
from the bresh," Rome broke out savagely. "That's jes whut I'm afeard
he will do. Thar was