"No, no! I didn't. I wouldn't have fired if it hadn't been in self-defense and because I hadn't time to think." He spoke with difficulty, for his mouth was bleeding and he was terribly bruised. "A liar, too!" said the farmer, glowering down upon him. "But I knew that before. What did you mean by your threats to my wife?" "See here, Mr. Holcroft; I'm down and at your mercy. If you'll let me off I'll go away and never trouble you or your wife again." "Oh, no!" said Holcroft with a bitter laugh. "You'll never, never trouble us again." "What, do you mean to murder me?" Ferguson half shrieked. "Would killing such a thing as you be murder? Any jury in the land would acquit me. You ought to be roasted over a slow fire." The fellow tried to scramble on his knees, but Holcroft hit him another savage blow, and said, "Lie still!" Ferguson began to wring his hands and beg for mercy. His captor stood over him a moment or two irresolutely in his white-heated anger; then thoughts of his wife began to soften him. He could not go to her with blood on his hands--she who had taught him such lessons of forbearance and forgiveness. He put the pistol in his pocket and giving his enemy a kick, said, "Get up!" The man rose with difficulty. "I won't waste time in asking any promises from YOU, but if you ever trouble my wife or me again, I'll break every bone in your body. Go, quick, before my mood changes, and don't say a word." As the man tremblingly untied his horse, Jane stepped out before him and said, "I'm a little idiotic girl, am I?" He was too thoroughly cowed to make any reply and drove as rapidly away as the ground permitted, guiding his horse with difficulty in his maimed condition. Jane, in the exuberance of her pleasure, began something like a jig on the scene of conflict, and her antics were so ridiculous that Holcroft had to turn away to repress a smile. "You didn't mind me, Jane," he said gravely. "Well, sir," she replied, "after showin' you the way to 'im, you oughter not grudge me seein' the fun." "But it isn't nice for little girls to see such things." "Never saw anything nicer in my life. You're the kind of man I believe in, you are. Golly! Only wished SHE'D seen you. I've seen many a rough and tumble 'mong farm hands, but never anything like this. It was only his pistol I was 'fraid of." "Will you do exactly what I say now?" She nodded. "Well, go home across the fields and don't by word or manner let Mrs. Holcroft know what you've seen or heard, and say nothing about meeting me. Just make her think you know nothing at all and that you only watched the man out of sight. Do this and I'll give you a new dress." "I'd like somethin' else 'sides that." "Well, what?" "I'd like to be sure I could stay right on with you." "Yes, Jane, after today, as long as you're a good girl. Now go, for I must get back to my team before this scamp goes by."