Both knew that this was a device for investigating the stables, and together they hurried to the huddle of low log buildings which served to house forage and animals on the Turrentine place. Not a hoof of anything to ride had been left. The boys would not have taken mules or horse to go to the still--so much was certain. In the light of the lantern which Jephthah lit the two stood and looked at each other with a sort of consternation. Then the old man fetched a long breath. "Go back to the house, Jude," he said not unkindly, putting the lantern into her hand; and without another word he set off down the road running hard. Chapter XIV The Raid Earlier that same Saturday evening, while Judith Barrier was fighting out her battle, and trying to tire down the restless spirit that wrung and punished her, Nancy Card, mindful of earlier experiences in feud times, was getting her cabin in a state of defence. "You know in reason them thar Turrentines ain't a-goin' to hold off long," she told Creed. "They're pizen fighters, and they allus aim to hit fust. No, you don't stay out in that thar office," as Creed made this proffer, stating that it would leave her and her family safer. "I say stay in the office! Why, them Turrentines would ask no better than one feller for the lot of 'em to jump on--they could make their brags about it the longest day they live of how they done him up." So it came to pass that Creed was sitting in the big kitchen of the Nancy Card cabin while Judith wrought at her fruitless labours in her own home. Despite the time of year, Nancy insisted on shutting the doors and closing the battened shutters at the windows. "A body gets a lot of good air by the chimney drawin' up when ye have a bit of fire smokin'," she said. "I'd ruther be smothered as to be shot, anyhow." Little Buck and Beezy, infected by the excitement of their elders, refused peremptorily to go to bed. "Let me take the baby," said Creed holding out his arms. "She's always good with me. She can go to sleep in my lap." "Beezy won't go to sleep in _nobody's_ lap," that young lady announced with great finality. "Beezy never go to sleep _no_ time--_nowhere_." "All right," agreed the young fellow easily, cutting short a futile argument upon the grandmother's part. "You needn't go to sleep if you can stay awake, honey. You sit right here in Creed's lap and stay awake till morning and keep him good company, won't you?" The red head nodded till its flying frazzles quivered like tongues of flame. Then it snuggled down on the broad breast, that moved rhythmically under it, and very soon the long lashes drooped to the flushed cheeks and Beezy was asleep.