He took them
in great bites, but slowly, and he picked the bones clean.
"I had breakfast yesterday morning," said he, "about forty mile from
here."
"And nothing since?" said I, in astonishment.
"Fresh air and water and exercise," said he, and sat down on the grass.
He was silent for a long while, and so was I. For a notion had struck
me, though I hardly dared to give it voice.
"Are you going away?" I asked at last.
He laughed.
"Why?" said he.
"If you were going to Kaintuckee--" I began, and faltered. For he stared
at me very hard.
"Kaintuckee!" he said. "There's a country! But it's full of blood and
Injun varmints now. Would you leave Polly Ann and go to Kaintuckee?"
"Are you going?" I said.
"I reckon I am," he said, "as soon as I kin."
"Will you take me?" I asked, breathless. "I--I won't be in your way, and
I can walk--and--shoot game."
At that he bent back his head and laughed, which made me redden with
anger. Then he turned and looked at me more soberly.
"You're a queer little piece," said he. "Why do you want to go thar?"
"I want to find Tom McChesney for Polly Ann," I said.
He turned away his face.
"A good-for-nothing scamp," said he.
"I have long thought so," I said.
He laughed again. It was a laugh that made me want to join him, had I
not been irritated.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110