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The hog-horn was now slung over the old coat, a bucket of cold victuals was reached from the shelf, and the old hog-feeder, equipped for his day's work, lifted the latch, and, stepping out into the sharp frostiness of the November morning, plodded with heavy steps toward the barnyard, Drive following closely at his heels.
The hog-feeder listened, but was unmoved: he obstinately declined to accept his freedom, his plea being that "the varments" would "'stroy up his creeturs" if he were not there to look after them. "De black sow, she got a fine litter o' pigs now, an' de foxes is a'ter 'em de blessed time." After this no more could be urged, and Jerry, scraping his foot, went out with a mind full of content.
Among them was the overseer, who, coming forward, announced that hog-feeder Jerry was to be arrested upon a charge of murder. "Not that I believe it, men," he said, "but the law must take its course." In the meantime two others had approached the old man, who had already stumbled to his feet, and, while bowing in a dazed kind of way, kept murmuring, "Sarvent, Marsters."
Then, leaning upon the fence, he noted each greedy grunter as he wriggled his small tail in keenest enjoyment and cracked the sweet corn. No need was there to count; to the hog-feeder each animal possessed an individuality so marked that in all the drove the absence of the most insignificant was at once detected. So now, as he leaned upon the fence, he cast anxious glances into the dimness beyond.
"Why, he's as free as air now; a deuced sight freer than I am." Nevertheless Harry gained his point, and though the Squire growled, "You young jackanapes, you've robbed me of the best hog-feeder on the river," still he was evidently pleased, and in the evening old Jerry was sent for.
Jones could but call to mind his meeting with the hog-feeder, his strange behavior, and the blood upon the ground, and he at once jumped to the conclusion that old Jerry had been at least a party to some foul deed.
Upon this identical Sunday morning the old hog-feeder betook himself to the little plantation church, whose bell, with cracked clamor, gave warning that preaching was about to begin.
"I don't believe you; I believe you've been killin' one of your master's hogs that's what you've been at." But as this did not concern him, he did not wait to inquire further, and so, turning on his heel, he strode off. The hog-feeder, too, hastening away, took the shortest path back to his cart.
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