apparent indifference seemingly he was determined to protect his man and avoid mob justice come what may a mob should not have him if he had to shoot and if he shot it would be to kill finally since the company thus added to did not dash upon him he seemingly decided to scare them off apparently he thought he could do this since they like stop a minute he called to his driver the latter pulled up so did the crowd behind then the stood over the prostrate body of the negro who lay in the wagon beneath him and called back go way from here you people go on now i won t have you after me give us the one in a half half tone of voice i ll give ye just two minutes to go on back out o this road returned the grimly pulling out his watch and looking at it they were about a hundred feet apart if you don t i ll clear you out give us the i know you scott answered the voice i ll arrest every last one of ye tomorrow mark my word the company listened in silence the horses and twisting we ve got a right to f answered one of the men i give ye fair warning said the jumping from his wagon and his pistols as he approached when i count five i ll begin to shoot he was a serious and figure as he approached and the crowd fell back a little out o this now he two the company turned completely and retreated g them we ll him when he further on said one of the men in explanation he s got to do it said another let him a little ways ahead the returned to his wagon and drove on he seemed however to that he would not be obeyed and that safety lay in haste alone his wagon was fast if only he could lose them or get a good start he might possibly get to and the strong county jail by morning his followers however him swiftly as might be determined not to be left behind he s goin to said one of the company of which was a member where s that asked over west o here about four miles why is he going there that s where he lives i guess he thinks if he kin im over there he kin im till he kin more help from i late he ll try an take im over yet to night or early in the shore smiled at the man s english this always fascinated him yet the men hesitating as to what to do they did not want to lose sight of and yet cowardice controlled them they did not want to get into direct with the law it wasn t place to hang the man although plainly they felt that he ought to be hanged and that it would be a stirring and exciting thing if he were consequently they desired to watch and be on hand � to get old and his son if they could who were out looking elsewhere they wanted to see what the father and brother would do the was solved by one of the men who suggested that they could get to by going back to pleasant valley and taking the sand river and that in the meantime they might come upon and his son en route or leave word at his house it was a shorter cut than this the was taking although he would get there first now possibly they could beat him at least to if he attempted to go on the road was back pleasant valley or near it and easily therefore while one or two remained to trail the and give the alarm in case he did attempt to go on to the rest followed by set off at a gallop to pleasant valley it was nearly dusk now when they arrived and stopped at the corner store � supper time the fires of evening meals were marked by smoke from chimneys here somehow the zest to follow seemed to depart evidently the had them for the night the father had not been found neither had perhaps they had better eat two or three had already secretly fallen away they were telling the news of what had occurred so far to one of the two who kept the place when suddenly the girl s brother and several companions came riding up they had been the territory to the north of the town and were hot and tired plainly they were unaware of the of which the crowd had been a part the s got im exclaimed one of the company with that which always the telling of great news in small rural companies he taken him over to in a wagon a hours ago which way did he go asked the son whose hardy figure worn hand me down clothes and hat showed up as he turned here and there on his horse cross lane you won t em that away though he s already over there by now better take the short cut a of voices now made the scene more interesting one told how the negro had been caught another that the was defiant a third that men were still him or over there watching until all the chief points of the drama had been spoken if not heard instantly were forgotten the whole customary order of the evening was once more the company started off on another excited up hill and down through the lovely country that lay between and pleasant valley by now was very weary of this and of his saddle he wondered when if ever this story was to let alone he write it tragic as it might prove he could not nevertheless spend an indefinite period trailing a possibility and 