The Call of the Cumberlands

"Hain't ye a-goin' ter take hit with ye, Samson?"

He shook his head.

"I hain't a-goin' ter need hit down below. Nobody don't use 'em down

thar. I've got my pistol, an' I reckon thet will be enough."

"I'll take good keer of hit," she promised.

The boy took out of his pockets a box of cartridges and a small

package tied in a greasy rag.

"Hit's loaded, Sally, an' hit's cleaned an' hit's greased. Hit's ready

fer use."

Again, she nodded in silent assent, and the boy began speaking in a

slow, careful voice, which gradually mounted into tense emotion.

"Sally, thet thar gun was my pap's. When he lay a-dyin', he gave hit

ter me, an' he gave me a job ter do with hit. When I was a little

feller, I used ter set up 'most all day, polishin' thet gun an' gittin'

hit ready. I used ter go out in the woods, an' practise shootin' hit at

things, tell I larned how ter handle hit. I reckon thar hain't many

fellers round here thet kin beat me now." He paused, and the girl

hastened to corroborate.

"Thar hain't none, Samson."

"There hain't nothin' in the world, Sally, thet I prizes like I does

thet gun. Hit's got a job ter do ... Thar hain't but one person in the

world I'd trust hit with. Thet's you.... I wants ye ter keep hit fer

me, an' ter keep hit ready.... They thinks round hyar I'm quittin', but

I hain't. I'm a-comin' back, an', when I comes, I'll need this hyar

thing--an' I'll need hit bad." He took up the rifle, and ran his hand

caressingly along its lock and barrel.

"I don't know when I'm a-comin'," he said, slowly, "but, when I calls

fer this, I'm shore a-goin' ter need hit quick. I wants hit ter be

ready fer me, day er night. Maybe, nobody won't know I'm hyar....

Maybe, I won't want nobody ter know.... But, when I whistles out thar

like a whippoorwill, I wants ye ter slip out--an' fotch me thet gun!"

He stopped, and bent forward. His face was tense, and his eyes were

glinting with purpose. His lips were tight set and fanatical.

"Samson," said the girl, reaching out and taking the weapon from his

hands, "ef I'm alive when ye comes, I'll do hit. I promises ye. An',"

she added, "ef I hain't alive, hit'll be standin' thar in thet corner.

I'll grease hit, an' keep hit loaded, an' when ye calls, I'll fotch hit

out thar to ye."