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Abram started across the field to Nancy； but he repeatedly turned
to watch the gleam of the gun…barrel； as the hunter rounded the
corner and started down the river bank。 He saw him leave the
line of the fence and disappear in the thicket。
〃Goin' straight for the sumac；〃 muttered Abram。 〃It's likely I'm
a fool for not stayin' right beside him past that point。 An'
yetI made it fair an' plain； an' he passed his word 'at he
wouldn't touch the birds。〃
He untied Nancy； and for the second time started toward the
sumac。 He had been plowing carefully； his attention divided
between the mare and the corn； but he uprooted half that row； for
his eyes wandered to the Cardinal's home as if he were
fascinated； and his hands were shaking with undue excitement as
he gripped the plow handles。 At last he stopped Nancy； and stood
gazing eagerly toward the river。
〃Must be jest about the sumac；〃 he whispered。 〃Lord！ but I'll be
glad to see the old gun…barrel gleamin' safe t'other side o' it。〃
There was a thin puff of smoke； and a screaming echo went rolling
and reverberating down the Wabash。 Abram's eyes widened； and a
curious whiteness settled on his lips。 He stood as if incapable
of moving。 〃Clang！ Clang！〃 came Maria's second warning。
The trembling slid from him； and his muscles hardened。 There was
no trace of rheumatic stiffness in his movements。 With a bound
he struck the chain…traces from the singletree at Nancy's heels。
He caught the hames； leaped on her back； and digging his heels
into her sides； he stretched along her neck like an Indian and
raced across the corn field。 Nancy's twenty years slipped from
her as her master's sixty had from him。 Without understanding
the emergency； she knew that he required all the speed there was
in her； and with trace…chains rattling and beating on her heels；
she stretched out until she fairly swept the young corn； as she
raced for the sumac。 Once Abram straightened； and slipping a
hand into his pocket； drew out a formidable jack…knife； opening
it as he rode。 When he reached the fence； he almost flew over
Nancy's head。 He went into a fence corner； and with a few
slashes severed a stout hickory withe； stripping the leaves and
topping it as he leaped the fence。
He grasped this ugly weapon； his eyes dark with anger as he
appeared before the hunter； who supposed him at the other side of
the field。
〃Did you shoot at that redbird？〃 he roared。
As his gun was at the sportman's shoulder； and he was still
peering among the bushes； denial seemed useless。 〃Yes； I did；〃
he replied； and made a pretense of turning to the sumac again。
There was a forward impulse of Abram's body。 〃Hit 'im？〃 he
demanded with awful calm。
〃Thought I had； but I guess I only winged him。〃
Abram's fingers closed around his club。 At the sound of his
friend's voice； the Cardinal came darting through the bushes a
wavering flame； and swept so closely to him for protection that a
wing almost brushed his cheek。
〃See here！ See here！〃 shrilled the bird in deadly panic。 There
was not a cut feather on him。
Abram's relief was so great he seemed to shrink an inch in
height。
〃Young man； you better thank your God you missed that bird；〃 he
said solemnly； 〃for if you'd killed him； I'd a…mauled this stick
to ribbons on you； an' I'm most afraid I wouldn't a…knowed when
to quit。〃
He advanced a step in his eagerness； and the hunter； mistaking
his motive； levelled his gun。
〃Drop that！〃 shouted Abram； as he broke through the bushes that
clung to him； tore the clothing from his shoulders； and held him
back。 〃Drop that！ Don't you dare point a weapon at me； on my
own premises； an' after you passed your word。
〃Your word！〃 repeated Abram； with withering scorn； his white；
quivering old face terrible to see。 〃Young man； I got a couple
o' things to say to you。 You'r' shaped like a man； an' you'r'
dressed like a man； an' yet the smartest person livin' would
never take you for anything but an egg…suckin' dog； this minute。
All the time God ever spent on you was wasted； an' your mother's
had the same luck。 I s'pose God's used to having creatures 'at
He's made go wrong； but I pity your mother。 Goodness knows a
woman suffers an' works enough over her children； an' then to
fetch a boy to man's estate an' have him； of his own free will
an' accord； be a liar！ Young man； truth is the cornerstone o'
the temple o' character。 Nobody can put up a good buildin'
without a solid foundation； an' you can't do solid character
buildin' with a lie at the base。 Man 'at's a liar ain't fit for
anything！ Can't trust him in no sphere or relation o' life； or
in any way； shape； or manner。 You passed out your word like a
man； an' like a man I took it an' went off trustin' you； an' you
failed me。 Like as not that squirrel story was a lie； too！ Have
you got a sick friend who is needin' squirrel broth？〃
The hunter shook his head。
〃No？ That wasn't true either？ I'll own you make me curious。
'Ud you mind tellin' me what was your idy in cookin' up that
squirrel story？〃
The hunter spoke with an effort。 〃I suppose I wanted to do
something to make you feel small；〃 he admitted； in a husky voice。
〃You wanted to make me feel small；〃 repeated Abram； wonderingly。
〃Lord！ Lord！ Young man； did you ever hear o' a boomerang？ It's
a kind o' weapon used in Borneo； er Australy； er some o' them
furrin parts； an' it's so made 'at the heathens can pitch it； an'
it cuts a circle an' comes back to the fellow； at throwed。 I
can't see myself； an' I don't know how small I'm lookin'； but I'd
rather lose ten year o' my life 'an to have anybody catch me
lookin' as little as you do right now。 I guess we look about the
way we feel in this world。 I'm feelin' near the size o' Goliath
at present； but your size is such 'at it hustles me to see any
MAN in you at all。 An' you wanted to make me feel small！ My；
oh； my！ An' you so young yet； too！
〃An' if it hadn't a…compassed a matter o' breakin' your word；
what 'ud you want to kill the redbird for； anyhow？ Who give you
rights to go 'round takin' such beauty an' joy out of the world？
Who do you think made this world an' the things 'at's in it？
Maybe it's your notion 'at somebody about your size whittled it
from a block o' wood； scattered a little sand for earth； stuck a
few seeds for trees； an' started the oceans with a waterin' pot！
I don't know what paved streets an' stall feedin' do for a man；
but any one 'at's lived sixty year on the ground knows 'at this
whole old earth is jest teemin' with work 'at's too big for
anything but a God； an' a mighty BIG God at that！
〃You don't never need bother none 'bout the diskivries o'
science； for if science could prove 'at the earth was a red hot
slag broken from the sun； 'at balled an' cooled flyin' through
space until the force o' gravity caught an' held it； it doesn't
prove