In five minutes either her father will be here, or them hell-hounds of Harrison's who've sold him out will swarm round this barn to git possesshun.

Ef this yer"-- she again pointed contemptuously to the objects just indicated--"means that you've cast your lot with US and kalkilate to take our bitter with our sweet, ye'll lift up that stack of hay and bring out a gun to help defend it.

Ef you're meanin' anythin' else, Ford, you'll hide yourself in that hay till Hiram comes and has time enough to attend to ye." "And if I choose to do neither ?" he said haughtily.
She looked at him in unutterable scorn.

"There's the winder--take it while there's time, afore I bar it.

Ef you see Hiram, tell him ye left an old woman behind ye to defend the place whar you uster hide with her darter." Before he could reply there was a distant report, followed almost directly by another.