He
understood that beyond those smacks he had seen his Uncle Bob
fetch Mr. Blount, he himself was the real cause of this
excitement, that somebody, it was not plain to his mind just who,
was seeking to get him away from Scratch Hill, and that a
mysterious power called the Law would sooner or later be invoked
to this dread end. But he knew this much clearly, nothing would
induce him to leave his Uncle Bob! And his thin little fingers
nestled warmly against the man's hardened palm. Yancy looked
down and gave him a sunny, reassuring smile.
"It'll be all right, Nevvy," he said gently.
"You wouldn't let 'em take me, would you, Uncle Bob?" asked the
child in a fearful whisper.
"Such an idea ain't entered my head. And this here warranting is
just some of Dave Blount's cussedness."
"Uncle Bob, what'll they do to you?"
"Well, I reckon the squire'll feel obliged to do one of two
things. He'll either fine me or else he won't."
"What'll you do if he fines you?"
"Why, pay the fine, Nevvy--and then lick Dave Blount again for
stirring up trouble. That's the way we most in general do. I
mean to say give him a good licking, and that'll make him stop
his foolishness."
"Wasn't that a good licking you gave him on the Ox Road, Uncle
Bob?" asked Hannibal.
"It was pretty fair fo' a starter, but I'm capable of doing a
better job," responded Yancy.
They overtook Uncle Sammy as he turned in at the squire's.
"I thought I'd come and see what kind of law a body gets at this
here co't of yours," the patriarch explained to Mr.
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