"I would do Troffater a kindness as soon as anybody," answered Fabens; "but his shocking levity, I have often told him, displeases us, and his company was not desired. He is old enough to speak with cleaner lips. If I could hope to improve him any, I would invite and visit him often. We do mean to visit his family, and ask them to our house." "He's havin' the sulks the natteral way," said Colwell. "He's mad as a March hare, and says, he axes no odds o' Mat Fabens," added Teezle. "Speak low," said Wilson, "I'll warrant, he's near us this very minute; he's olers spookin' about, and eaves-droppin'." "Let him spook about and eaves-drop," said Fabens, "I owe him nothing, but pity for his disposition, and I would say all I have said, and more, to his face. There is one comfort! God has power to give him a better heart, and I hope some day he will." "I dun know about that," said Colwell. "Mebby he can, but it will take more brimstun than the critter's worth to cleanse his rotten sperit." "And they'll have to break in an egg or two after that, I guess, to make it white and clear, as Aunt Polly does her sugar," added Teezle. "Don't make light of it," said Fabens. "With God all things good are possible. I would not add a single pain to his misery. Who of us--" "There! there, see that light in the bushes yonder!" screamed Nancy Nimblet, who had been frightened by the idea that they were watched, and had been looking around the camp for sights of alarm. "That light yonder!--what is it?--what is it?" "A Jack-o'-lantern, may be, and may be somethin' wuss," said Colwell, rising. "A ball of fire!--what can it be? see, it comes towards us!" added Uncle Walter. "It's right where we found little Clinton's hat," cried Mrs. Fabens, pale with terror. "O, dear, what can it be? He couldn't have been murdered, my dear Clinton couldn't have been murdered, and that appeared to reveal his fate!" "I'll warrant that's it!" answered Teezle. "Square Peasley seen a light, and heerd a gugglin' groan where the pedlar had his throat cut in Cloverdale, you know." "See there! see there!--it comes nearer!--look at it now; it has eyes, and ears!--see its awful nose and mouth," cried Aunt Polly Waldron. "What shall we do?" screamed Nancy Nimblet, all in a tremble. "It will hurt us!--it will kill us! where shall I go?" "Be quiet, be calm, it cannot hurt you," said Fabens soothingly; "it can't hurt any one. God wouldn't let it." "Awful!" shrieked Mr. and Mrs. Flaxman in one nasal; scream, "let us run, let us run!" "It's an evil spirit," said Wilson. "The old pot-metal Cuss himself has come for us!" cried Uncle Walter. "If I know anything about the Devil, that's him; that's his head and ears, and eyes and teeth, I'll bet a turkey they are!" "No, no, it cannot be an evil spirit or the Devil," said Fabens, calmly. "The Devil would not appear in such a form to us, and God will guard us from evil spirits."