Down-stairs the woman was moving about her work, stopping now and then for a moment to listen to the sounds overhead. "Why don't they get to bed and to sleep!" she muttered at length with an oath. "Bill and the boys must be sharp set for their supper and will come in most ready to take my head off. 'Tain't no fault o' mine, but that'll not make no difference. Well, I'll call 'em anyhow, for them fellers ain't comin' down agin to-night." So saying she set her light in the window and hurried her culinary operations, for she was getting ready a second and more plentiful meal than the one she had set before the travellers. Ere many moments four men, great broad-shouldered, brawny, rough looking fellows, on whose faces ignorance, vice and cruelty were plainly stamped, came creeping stealthily in at the open door. "Well, old girl, what have you bagged?" asked the eldest, in whom we recognize Bill Shark, the confederate of Brannon and Lyttleton. "I conclude it's somethin', since we've been kept a starvin' till this time o' night." His tone, though suppressed, was savage, and his look angry and sullen. She held up a warning finger. "Hush-sh-sh! they're up and awake yit. More quiet, boys. Let up now, and go to work. The vittles is all on table." "Are ye a goin' to tell me what I asked?" demanded her husband in a fierce undertone, as he sat down and began helping himself liberally to the smoking viands, but looking more at her than at them. "It's him," she answered, with a slight chuckle; "and he's as nice lookin' and soft spoken a chap as ever you see." "An' what o' that?" sneered one of the sons. "His purty face ain't a goin' to save him." "Maybe not, Abner; but I'm afeard they're too strong fur ye." "How many?" "Six, countin' the nigger, and one on 'em's Tom Johnson." This announcement was received with a volley of oaths and curses, not loud but deep, Bill adding: "He'll count two at least." "The other two fellers'll have to come and lend a hand whether or no," said Abner gloomily. "Don't you let 'em off, dad. With them and Brannon we'll be seven. And if we come on 'em asleep, why, we'll not have such hard work, I take it." "Time they were asleep now. How long since they went up there?" There was an angry gleam in Bill's eyes as he turned them upon his wife. "Long enough to have got to sleep twic't over, I should think. But they hain't done it. Hark! they're a movin' about, and talkin' too, I believe." "Then you didn't mind my orders, and ought to be licked." A volley of oaths followed, and he half rose from his chair and seized her by the arm. But his sons interfered. "Are you mad, old man?" pulling him back into his seat; "we'll not have a ghost of a chance if you kick up a row now." He yielded, though with an ill grace, and the woman, not in the least disconcerted by his brutal behavior, said in her ordinary tone, as she replenished his empty cup: