"Uncle Gabe,"he asked,quietly,for the old man's tone was a little querulous,"air ye sorry ye holped me?Do ye blame me fer whut I've done?""No,"said the old miller,answering both questions;"I don't.Ibelieve whut ye tol'me.Though,even ef ye had 'a'done it,I don't know as I'd blame ye,seem'that it was a fa'r fight.I don't doubt he was doin'his best to kill you."Rome turned quickly,his face puzzled and darkening.
Uncle Gabe,whut air you drivin'at?"The old man spat into the fire,and shifted his position uneasily,as Rome's hand caught his knee.
Well,ef I have to tell ye,I s'pose I must.Thar's been nothin'pertickler ag'in ye so fer,'cept fer breakin'that confederatin'statute 'bout bandin'fightin'men together;'n'nobody was very anxious to git hol'o'ye jes fer that,but now "-the old man stopped a moment,for Rome's eyes were kindling-"they say that ye killed Jas Lew allen,'n'that ye air a murderer;'n'hit air powerful strange how all of a suddint folks seem to be gittin'down on a man as kills his fellow-creetur;'n'now they means to hunt ye til they ketch ye."It was all out now,and the old man was relieved.Rome rose to his feet,and in sheer agony of spirit paced the floor.
"I tol'ye,Uncle Gabe,that I didn't kill him."So ye did,'n'I believe ye.But a feller seed you 'n'Steve comm'from the place whar Jas was found dead,'n'whar the dirt 'n'rock was throwed about as by two bucks in spring-time.Steve says he didn't do it,'n'he wouldn't say you didn't.Looks to me like Steve did the kuhn','n'was lyin'a leetle.He hain't goin'to confess hit to save your neck;'n'he can't no way,fer he hev lit out o'these mount'ins-long ago."If Steve was out of danger,suspicion could not harm him,and Rome said nothing.
"Isom's got the lingerin'fever ag'in,'n'he's out"i his head.He's ravin''bout that fight.Looks like ye tol'him 'bout it.He says,'Don't tell Uncle Gabe';'n'he keeps sayin'it.Hit'll 'most kill him ef you go 'way;but he wants ye to git out o'the mount'ins;'n',Rome,you've got to go.""Who was it,Uncle Gabe,that seed me 'n'Steve comm''way from thar?
He air the same feller who hev been spyin'ye all the time this war's been goin'on;hit's that dried-faced,snaky Eli Crump,who ye knocked down 'n'choked up in Hazlan one day fer sayin'something ag'in Isom."
"I knowed it-I knowed it-oh,ef I could git my fingers roun'his throat once more-jes once more-I'd be 'mos'ready to die."He stretched out his hands as he strode back and forth,with his fingers crooked like talons;his shadow leaped from wall to wall,and his voice,filling the cave,was,for the moment,scarcely human.The old man waited till the paroxysm was over and Rome had again sunk before the fire.
"Hit 'u'd do no good,Rome,"he said,rising to go."You've got enough on ye now,without the sin o'takin'his life.You better make up yer mind to leave the mount ins now right 'way.You're a-gittin'no more'n half-human,livin'up hyeh like a catamount.Idon't see how ye kin stand it.Thar's no hope o'things blowin'over,boy,'n'givin'ye a chance o'comm'out ag'in,as yer dad and yer grandad usen to do afore ye.The citizens air gittin'tired o'these wars.They keeps out the furriners who makes roads 'n'buys lands;they air ag'in'the law,ag'in'religion,ag'in'yo'pocket,'n'ag'in'mine.Lots o'folks hev been ag'in'all this fightin'fer a long time,but they was too skeery to say so.They air talkin'mighty big now,seem'they kin git soldiers hyeh to pertect 'em.So ye mought as well give up the idea o'staying hyeh,'less'n ye want to give yourself up to the law."The two stepped from the cave,and passed through the rhododendrons till they stood on the cliff overlooking the valley.
The rich light lay like a golden mist between the mountains,and through it,far down,the river moaned like the wind of a coming storm.
Did ye tell the gal whut I tol'ye?"
"Yes,Rome;hit wasn't no use.She says Steve's word's as good as yourn;'n'she knowed about the crosses.Folks say she swore awful ag'in'ye at young Jas's burial,'lowin'that she'd hunt ye down herse'f,ef the soldiers didn't ketch ye.I hain't seed her sence she got sick;'pears like ever'body's sick.Mebbe she's a leetle settled down now-no tellin'.No use foolin'with her,Rome.You git away from hyeh.Don't you worry 'bout Isom-I'll take keer o'him,'n'when he gits well,he'll want to come atter ye,'n'I'll let him go.He couldn't live hyeh without you.But y'u must git away,Rome,'n'git away mighty quick."
With hands clasped behind him,Rome stood and watched the bent figure slowly pick its way around the stony cliff.
"I reckon I've got to go.She's ag'in'me;they're all ag'in'me.Ireckon I've jes got to go.Somehow,I've been kinder hopin'-"He closed his lips to check the groan that rose to them,and turned again into the gloom behind him.
