e big man, with another
burst of language, and a threatening movement with the hand that
rested on the pistol.

Mr. Howitt was startled. Never in his life before had such words
been addressed to him. He managed to reply with quiet dignity, "I
have no reason for deceiving you, or anyone else, Mr. Gibbs. There
has been no man here but myself, since Matt and Pete left after
supper." The shepherd's manner carried conviction, and Gibbs
hesitated, evidently greatly perplexed. During the pause, Brave
growled again, and faced toward the cliff below the corral, his
hair bristling.

"What's th' matter with that dog?" said Gibbs, turning uneasily in
his saddle, to face in the direction the animal was looking.

"What is it, Brave?" said Mr. Howitt. The only answer was an
uneasy whine, followed by another growl, all of which said
plainly, in dog talk, "I don't know what it is, but there is
something over there on that cliff that I don't like."

"It must be some animal," said the shepherd.

"Ain't no animal that makes a dog act like that. Did any body pass
while you was a sittin' there, jest before I come in sight?"

"Not a soul," answered the other. "Did you meet someone down the
road?"

The big man looked at the shepherd hard before he answered, in a
half-frightened, half-bullying tone, "I seed something in th' road
yonder, an' hit disappeared right by th' old shack under th'
bluffs." He twisted around in his saddle again, facing the cliff
with its dense shadows and dim twilight forms, as he muttered, "If
I was only right sure, I--" Then swinging back he leaned toward
the man on the ground; "Look a here, Mister. There's them that
'lows there's things in this here Holler t' be afeared of, an' I
reckon hit's so. There's sure been hell t' pay at that there cabin
down yonder. I ain't a sayin' what hit was I seed, but if hit war
anywhere else, I'd a said hit was a man; but if hit was a man, I
don't know why you didn't see him when he come past; er else
you're a lyin'. I jest want t' tell you, you're right smart of a
stranger in these here parts, even if you have been a workin' fer
Ol' Matt all summer. You're too blame careful 'bout talkin' 'bout
yourself, or tellin' whar you come from, t' suit some folks. Some
strangers are alright, an' again some ain't. But we don't aim t'
have nobody in this here neighborhood what jumps into th' brush
when they see an honest man a comin'."

As he finished speaking, Gibbs straightened himse