United States or Greenland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I know whar it be," said Byers. Birt gazed at him astounded. "Whar?" he cried eagerly. "Whar ye hid it," returned Byers coolly. Birt's lips moved with difficulty as he huskily ejaculated "I never hid it I never!" "Ye needn't deny it. I ez good ez seen ye hide it." Birt looked dazed for a moment. Then the blood rushed to his face and as suddenly receded, leaving it pale and rigid.
If she had had any relish for triumph, she might have found it in Birt's astonishment to learn that she understood all the details of entering land, which had been such a mystery to him. "'Twar the commonest thing in the worl', whenst I war young, ter hear 'bout'n folks enterin' land," she said.
Two of the men were in the shed examining a green hide by the light of a perforated tin lantern, that seemed to spill the rays in glinting white rills. As they flickered across the pile of bark where Rufe and Tennessee were sitting, he noticed how alert Birt looked, how bright his eyes were. For Birt's hopes were suddenly renewed.
They said to each other that he was a "peart boy an' powerful good ter the t'other chill'en, an' holped the fambly along ez well ez a man better'n thar dad ever done;" for Birt's father had been characterized always as "slack-twisted an' onlucky." The shadows dwindled on the tan. The winds had furled their wings. White clouds rose, dazzling, opaque, up to the blue zenith.
Don't ye fret, sonny." Birt's self-control gave way abruptly. He rose in great agitation, and started toward the door. Then he paused, and broke forth with passionate incoherence, telling amidst sobs and tears the story of the woodland's munificence to him, and how he had flung the gift away.
An' then I'd remember ez his mother war a widder-woman, an' he war nothin' but a boy, an' boys air bound ter be gamesome an' full o' jokes wunst in a while, an' I'd feel like I war bound ter furgive him 'bout the harnt. An' then ag'in I got toler'ble oneasy fur fear the Law mought hold ME 'sponsible fur knowin' 'bout Birt's crime of stealin' the grant an' yit not tellin' on him.
"Ef all the foxes on the mounting war ter hold a pertracted meet'n, jes' ter pleasure you-uns, thar wouldn't be enough scalps an' ears 'mongst 'em ter make up the money ye hanker fur ter buy a horse." To buy a horse was the height of Birt's ambition.
"Look-a-hyar, Rufe," he exclaimed, excitedly; "how d'ye know ennything 'bout Nate's grant an' whar 't war hid?" Rufe glanced up scornfully, insulted in some occult manner by the question. "How did I know, Birt Dicey? How d'ye know yerse'f?" he retorted. "I knows a heap, ginerally." Perkins, catching the drift of Birt's intention, came to the rescue.
He must know whether that strange object under the tree could be intended as a warning to him to cease in time his evil ways tormenting Towse, pulling Tennessee's hair, shirking the woodpile, and squandering Birt's rifle balls. He even feared this might be a notification that the hour of retribution had already come! He scuttled off the platform, and began to swing himself from bough to bough.
The crow had flown, but he heard as he waited a faint "caw! caw!" in the misty distance. Whoever the newcomer might be, he certainly loitered. At last the leaves parted, and revealed- -Rufe. Birt's first sensation was renewed disappointment. Then he was disposed to investigate the mystery of Nate's non-appearance.
Word Of The Day