"Yes, an' I reckon he come mighty nigh a robbin' me of a pleasure--when the time comes." "It was about Lou." "Miss Lou, you viper." "Oh, that's all right. Starbuck, you ricolleck I told you I had that old-fashioned, single-barrel cap-an'-ball pistol. Here it is." He drew forth an old pistol. "Peters, I'd advise you to come after me with a mo' improved weepin." "Oh, I'll do that an' with help from off yander, when the time comes. I ain't atter you yit. I jest wanted to give you one mo' chance. An' when I come shore enough, I'll fetch improved weepins. I ain't quite in my official capacity now." "Yo' app'intment has teached you big words." "Yes," said Peters, tapping the barrel of the pistol, "as big as the slug this thing is loaded with. My daddy told me that this here slug went through his brother's heart an' was buried in a tree. It was dug out an' now it's here--in this pistol ag'in. Jest fetched it along to remind you of the past." "Oh, my ricolliction is good, Peters. But I don't ricolleck how you come by that old pistol. None of yo' folks ever tuck it away from any of mine. I reckon some of yo' folks stold it outen the cou't house." "That's all right, Starbuck. No matter how it come, it is here. But I don't want no trouble with you, an' won't have none if you do the right an' easy thing. Raise that thousand dollars fur me. You've got it hid somewhar." "If I had a million I wouldn't give you a cent." "Mout change yo' tune befo' this thing is over with." "Yes," said Jasper, "I mout whistle a dead march." "Not over me," Peters replied. "Yes, over you." "You're a liar." Starbuck slapped him in the face, and springing back, Lije cocked the pistol and raised it to shoot. "Hold on a minute--just one minute," said Starbuck, and with the pistol leveled, Peters stood looking at him. "Yes, I'll give you one minute, Starbuck, an' that is all. If you move I'll kill you." "If I do move, you scoundrel, it will be to kill you. Why, you po' fool--" "Starbuck, any fool can be game--I thought I know'd all about you, but I never know'd befo' that you was so cool." "Cool," Jasper repeated, "I ain't half as cool as you air keerless. I could kill you with that axe an' you couldn't help yo'se'f. That pistol won't shoot. Look! When you cocked it the cap fell off." CHAPTER XVIII. DOWN THE ROAD. With his old pistol useless in his hand the ruffian walked away, shaking his head and muttering that a time was coming soon. "And with help from off yander," Jasper heard him shout from the road. "I have cut down the tree whar that bullet lodged and burnt it with a slow fire, and the fire that's to burn another tree, a scrub oak, may be slow but it is a comin'. Do you hear me over thar?" "A man has to be mighty deaf not to hear a wolf howl," Jasper replied, and took his way back to the mill where Laz and Margaret were waiting for him.