Part 27 (1/2)

”Go-go-what's his name?”

”Goliath.”

”Go-go-li-yah is one of them there fellers you read about in books.

That's the reason I did not know nothin' about him. You see, I can't read much, my lad. Squire Grundy says I'm got to larn better, and how to write, too, before the next election. But now, just tell me about the Go-go-li-yah.”

”He was a very big man--a giant,” began Owen. ”David was a small boy.

The two had a fight, and the little boy killed the big giant.”

”And that's the reason the preacher called me Go-go-li-yah,” said Mr.

Lane; ”because I was a big man, and was whipped by you. But what did old Go-li-yah fight with--a horse-pistol, I reckon?”

”N-o-o-o,” replied Owen, with another prolonged surprise. ”Goliath used a sword, and David a sling.”

”One of them things that boys use for throwing rocks?” inquired Mr.

Lane.

”Yes, sir. But here's a picture of the fight. You see, here's the giant lying on his back. David has taken Goliath's sword and has raised it to cut off his head.”

”Served him right,” answered the visitor, calmly. ”If he'd only had sense enough to use a rifle or a ho'se-pistol he wouldn't have had his darn noggle chopped off.”

Owen continued to turn the pages of the history slowly, while he narrated some of the striking events of the Old and New Testament. Mr.

Lane listened with the simplicity of a child. How he marveled at the pa.s.sage of the Red Sea--the pillar of fire and luminous cloud in the desert--the fall of the walls of Jericho.

Before retiring that night Owen knelt by his bed and prayed fervently for Mr. Lane; prayed that He who had opened a way through the waters and had lit up the path in the desert would also give to his friend the gift and light of faith.

CHAPTER XXIV.

TOM THE TINKER.

”Good luck to you, my friend!” said Mr. Howard, as he accompanied Mr.

Lane to the yard gate and pointed out the path which led down to the river. ”But be careful, sir; be careful. Remember that you are dealing with a villain--he is not a murderer; at least, I never heard of his killing any one--but he is cruel--as cruel a man as ever came to this State. I do believe that he would shoot down any one who dared come between him and his money. But remember, too, that he is a coward. He'll not meet you face to face. Once you've captured him, watch him closely, for I fear that he'll attempt to take his own life when he sees that he has fallen into the hands of the law.”

”I'm new at this business, as you know, Mr. Howard. Luck has been with me so far, and I hope it will stay. This here is sartin; if I don't capture Tom the Tinker it won't be because I didn't do my part. Good morning, sir!”

”Good morning!”

”If I get the Tinker it will be a good shot for me in the next election for sheriff.” With these words Mr. Lane started off on his perilous mission.

The farmer stood and watched him until he disappeared, and then turned and walked slowly toward the house, muttering as he went: ”The villain!

the villain! If he is not captured this time, then I'll take a hand in the fight!”

Mr. Lane strode along the river bank, pus.h.i.+ng his way through the patches of horse-weed which grew quite close to the water's edge. He did not follow the path farther up on the hill, as he did not wish to be observed. He often paused to mark his way, for he thought that it would be necessary for him to retrace his steps at night.

High above his head, on the bare limbs of a sycamore, a restive rain-crow croaked,--its call predicting heavy rains and bad luck. The old marksman raised his rifle with deadly aim toward the rufous-winged prophet, held it there for a single second, then, lowering it again, said, ”If I'd only pulled the trigger, my little friend, you'd never bring bad luck to n.o.body again.”

A strange feeling came over him as he drew near the cave, so that he used every means to divert his mind. He spoke to the clattering kingfishers, even though they had no inclination to tarry with him; he gazed at the stupid frogs along the river bank; he watched the tanagers which seemed like b.a.l.l.s of fire among the green foliage of the trees.

The closer he came to his destination the slower he walked; as a consequence, it was almost mid-day when he stood before the two giant rocks, the guardian genii of that mysterious place.