"You say to Creed Bonbright that Judith Barrier says he must come to her at the foot of Foeman's Bluff--on yon side--as soon after dark as he can git there. Tell him to come straight through by the short cut; hit'll be safe; nobody'll ever study about him comin' in this direction. As soon after hit's plumb dark as he can git there--will ye say that? Will ye shore tell Creed an' never tell nobody but Creed?" "But he won't go," said Little Buck wisely. "Granny's scared to have him go to talk to yo' Unc' Jep, but she'd be a heap scareder to have him come to you, 'caze you' one o' the Turrentines too--ain't ye, Judith?" Judith's face whitened at the weakness of her position. "I would come, Judith, becaze I love you an' you love me--but Creed, he won't," said the boy. "You tell him Little Buck," she whispered huskily, terror and shame warring in her face, "tell him that I do love him. Tell him I said for God's sake to come--if he loves me." The child's eyes slowly filled. He dropped them and stood staring at the ground, saying nothing because of the blur. Finally: "I'll tell him that--ef you say I must," he whispered. And loving, tender Judith, in her desperate preoccupation, never noted what she had done to her little sweetheart. Chapter XVII The Old Cherokee Trail "The supper's all ready for you boys," Judith called in to Wade whose whistle sounded from his own room. "Hit's a settin', kivered, on the hearth; the coffee-pot's on the coals. Would you-all mind to wait on yo'selves, an' would you put the saddle on Selim for me? I'm goin' over to Lusks'. I'll eat supper there; I may stay all night; but I'll be home in the mornin' soon to git you-all's breakfast." "Why--why, pap 'lowed----" "Well, Uncle Jep ain't here. Ef you don't want to----" "Oh, that's all right Judith. Of course it's all right. But you say you're goin' to ride to Lusks'?--to ride?" hesitated Wade uneasily. Judith flung up her head and stared straight at him with angry eyes. "Yes," she said finally, "when I leave this place for over night I'd ruther know whar my hoss is at. I'll take him along." "Oh,--all right," her cousin hastened to agree; "I never meant to make you mad, Jude. Of course I'd jest as soon saddle up for you. I don't wonder you feel thataway. I never like to have anybody use my ridin' critter." Judith had made her point. She let it pass, and went sombrely on with her preparation for departure. Wade still hesitated uneasily. Finally he said deprecatingly, "Ef ye don't mind waitin' a minute I'll eat my supper, an' ride over with ye--I was a-goin' after supper anyhow; I want to see Lacey Rountree ef he's not gone back home yit." "I'll be glad to have ye," answered Judith quietly. "I don't mind waitin'." And Wade, plainly relieved, hurried out to the stables.