Their father hurried back to Yancy.
"I was just thinkin', sir," he said, "that if it would be any
comfort to you, we'll tie up to the bank right here and wait
until you can travel. I'm powerfully annoyed at having fetched
you all this way!"
But Yancy shook his head.
"I'll be glad to go on to Memphis with you. If my nevvy got away
from Murrell, that's where I'll find him. I reckon folks will be
kind to him and sort of help him along. Why, he ain't much mo'
than knee high!"
"Shore they will! there's a lot of good in the world, so don't
you fret none about him!" cried Polly.
"I can't do much else, ma'am, than think of him bein' lonesome
and hungry, maybe--and terribly frightened. What do you-all
suppose he thought when he woke up and found me gone?" But
neither Polly nor her husband had any opinion to venture on this
point. "If I don't find him in Memphis I'll take the back track
to No'th Carolina, stoppin' on the way to see that man Slosson."
"Well, I 'low there's a fit comin' to him when he gets sight of
you!" and Cavendish's bleached blue eyes sparkled at the thought.
"There's a heap mo' than a fit. I don't bear malice, but I stay
mad a long time," answered Yancy grimly:
"You shouldn't talk no mo'," said Polly. "You must just lay
quiet and get yo' strength back. Now, I'm goin' to fix you a
good meal of vittles." She motioned Cavendish to follow her, and
they both withdrew from the shanty.
Yancy closed his eyes, and presently, lulled by the soft ripple
that bore them company, fell into a restful sleep.
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