第7章 V(2)

"I reckon thar's enough to fill the sack,Isom,"said the old miller,breaking the strained silence of the group.The girl rose and handed him a few pieces of silver.

I reckon I'd better pay fer it all,"she said.I s'pose I won't be over hyeh ag'in."Old Gabe gave some of the coins back.

"Y'u know whut my price al'ays is,"he said.

I'm obleeged,"answered the girl,flushing.

"Co'n hev riz on our side.I thought mebbe you charged folks over thar more,anyways.""I sells fer the same,ef co'n is high ur low,"was the answer."This side or t'other makes no diff'unce to me.I hev frien's on both sides,'n'I take no part in sech doin's as air a shame to the mountains."There was a quick light of protest in the girl's dark eyes;but the old miller was honored by both factions,and without a word she turned to the boy,who was tying the sack.

The boat's loose!"he called out,with.the string between his teeth;and she turned again and ran out.Rome stood still.

Kerry the sack out,boy,'n'holp the gal."Old Gabe's voice was stern,and the young mountaineer doggedly swung the bag to his shoulders.The girl had caught the rope,and drawn the rude dugout along the shore.

"Who axed ye to do that?"she asked,angrily.

Rome dropped the bag into the boat,and merely looked her in the face.

"Look hyeh,Rome Stetson"-the sound of his name from her lips almost startled him-"I'll hev ye understan'that I don't want to be bounden to you,nor none o'yer kin."Turning,she gave an impatient sweep with her paddle.The prow of the canoe dipped and was motionless.Rome had caught the stern,and the girl wheeled in hot anger.Her impulse to strike may have been for the moment and no longer,or she may have read swiftly no unkindness in the mountaineer's steady look;for the uplifted oar was stayed in the air,as though at least she would hear him.

"I've got nothin'ag'in'you,"he said,slowly,Jas Lewallen hev been threatenin'me,'n'I thought it was him,'n'I was ready fer him,when you come into the mill.I wouldn't hurt you nur no other woman.Y'u ought to know it,'n'ye do know it."The words were masterful,but said in a way that vaguely soothed the girl's pride,and the oar was let slowly into the water.

"I reckon y'u air a friend o'his,"he added,still quietly."I've seed ye goin'up thar,but I've got nothin'ag'in'ye,whoever ye be."She turned on him a sharp look of suspicion."I reckon I do be a friend o'hisn,"she said,deliberately;and then she saw that he was in earnest.A queer little smile went like a ray of light from her eyes to her lips,and she gave a quick stroke with her paddle.The boat shot into the current,and was carried swiftly toward the Cumberland.The girl stood erect,swaying through light and shadow like a great scarlet flower blowing in the wind;and Rome watched her till she touched the other bank.Swinging the sack out,she stepped lightly after it,and,without looking behind her,disappeared in the bushes.

The boy Isom was riding away when Rome,turned,and old Gabe was watching from the door of the mill.

Who is that gal?"he asked,slowly.It seemed somehow that he had known her a long while ago.A puzzled frown overlay his face,and the old miller laughed.

"You a-axin'who she be,'n'she a-axin who you be,'n'both o'ye a-knowin'one 'nother sence ye was knee-high.Why,boy,hit's old Jasper's gal-Marthy!