"Dead as a buck arter gittin' a bullet from Jerry Rook's rifle. If ye don't b'lieve it, maybe you'd step down to my shanty, and see him streeched out." "No, no. But we didn't do it; we didn't intend it, by Heaven!" "No swarin', young fellars. I don't care what your intentions war; ye've done the deed. I seed how it war, and all abeout it; ye hung him up for sport--pretty sport that war--an' ye rud off, forgitting all abeout him. Yur sport hev been his death." "My God! we are sorry to hear it. We had no thought of such a thing. A bear came along, and set the hounds up." "Oh, a bar, war it? I thort so. An' ye tuk arter the bar, and let the poor young fellar swing?" "It is true; we can't deny it. We had no intention of what has happened; we thought only of the bear." "Wal, now, ye'll have to think o' something else. What d'ye intend doin'?" "It's a terrible ugly affair. We're very sorry." "No doubt ye air, an' ye'd be a precious sight sorrier of the young fellar had any kinfolk to look arter it, and call ye to account. As it be, there ain't nobody but me--and he warn't no kin o' mine--only a stayin' wi' me, that may make it easier for you." "But, what have you done with--the--the body?" Brandon asks the question hesitatingly, and thinking of Rook's daughter. "The body? Wal, I've carried it to the shanty, an' put it out o' sight. I didn't want the hul country to be on fire till I'd fust seed ye. As yet, thar ain't nobody the wiser." "And--" "An' what?" "Your daughter." "Oh! my darter don't count. She air a 'bedient gurl, and ain't gwine to blabbin' while I put the stopper on her tongue. Don't ye be skeeart 'beout thet." "Jerry Rook!" says Brandon, recovering confidence from the old hunter's hints, "it's no use being basket-faced over this business. We've got into a scrape, and and we know it. You know it, too. We had no intention to commit a crime; it was all a lark; but since it's turned out ugly, we must make the best we can of it. You're the only one who can make it disagreeable for us, and you won't. I know you won't. We're willing to behave handsomely if you act otherwise. You can say this young fellow has gone away--down to Orleans, or anywhere else. I've heard you once say he was not to be with you much longer. That will explain to your neighbours why he is missing. To be plain, then, what is the price of such an explanation?" "Durn me, Alf Brandon, ef you oughtn't to be a lawyer, or something o' thet sort. You hit it so adzactly. Wal; let's see! I risk someat by keepin' your secret--a good someat. I'll stand a chance o' bein' tuk up for aidin' an' abettin'. Wal; let's see! Thar war six o' ye. My girl tolt me so, an' I kin see it by the tracks o' your critters. Whar's the other four?" "Not far off."