"
The captain bowed, giving her a glance of bold admiration.
By this time the children had straggled off into the pine woods
as silently as they had assembled; only Yancy and Hannibal
remained. Mrs. Ferris turned to the former.
"If you will close the cabin door, Mr. Yancy, everything will be
ready for next Sunday," she said, and moved toward the horses,
followed by Murrell. Betty Malroy lingered for a moment at
Hannibal's side.
"Good-by, little boy; you must ask your Uncle Bob to bring you up
to the big house to see me," and stooping she kissed him.
"Good-by, Mr. Yancy, I liked your story."
Hannibal and Yancy watched them mount and ride away, then the boy
said:
"Uncle Bob, now them ladies have gone, won't you please show me
them dints you made in the doorjamb?"
CHAPTER III
TROUBLE AT SCRATCH HILL
Captain Murrell had established himself at Balaam's Cross Roads.
He was supposed to be interested in the purchase of a plantation,
and in company with Crenshaw visited the numerous tracts of land
which the merchant owned; but though he professed delight with
the country, he was plainly in no haste to become committed to
any one of the several propositions Crenshaw was eager to submit.
Later, and still in the guise of a prospective purchaser, he met
Bladen, who also dealt extensively in land, and apparently if
anything could have pleased him more than the region about the
Cross Roads it was the country adjacent to Fayetteville.
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