°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¨leavin'¡¡alone¡¡the¡¡vanities¡¡o'¡¡dress£»¡¡it's¡¡ez¡¡much¡¡as¡¡one¡¡can¡¡do¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡a¡¡
clean¡¡rag¡¡on¡¡with¡¡the¡¡children¡¡climbin'¡¡over¡¡ye¡£¡¡Sit¡¡by£»¡¡and¡¡I'll¡¡be¡¡back¡¡in¡¡a¡¡
minit¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡retired¡¡to¡¡the¡¡back¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡moments¡¡returned¡¡with¡¡
smoothed¡¡hair¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡palm¡leaf¡¡¡¡¡¡broche¡¡shawl¡¡¡¡thrown¡¡over¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡shoulders£»¡¡
which¡¡not¡¡only¡¡concealed¡¡the¡¡ravages¡¡made¡¡by¡¡time¡¡and¡¡maternity¡¡on¡¡the¡¡
gown¡¡¡¡¡¡beneath£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡extent¡¡¡¡¡¡gave¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡suggestion¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
casual¡¡visitor¡¡in¡¡her¡¡own¡¡household¡£¡¡It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡confessed¡¡that¡¡for¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡11¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡12¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡BY¡¡SHORE¡¡AND¡¡SEDGE¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡Sister¡¡Hiler¡¡rather¡¡lent¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡this¡¡idea£»¡¡possibly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡
fact¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡temporarily¡¡¡¡¡¡obliterated¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡children£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡¡¡¡¡removed¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
from¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡responsibility¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡unpicturesque¡¡¡¡¡¡household¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡¡¡¡¡effect¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
only¡¡marred¡¡by¡¡the¡¡absence¡¡of¡¡any¡¡impression¡¡upon¡¡Gideon£»¡¡who¡¡scarcely¡¡
appeared¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡notice¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡change£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡whose¡¡¡¡¡¡soft¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡rather¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
identify¡¡the¡¡miserable¡¡woman¡¡under¡¡her¡¡forced¡¡disguise¡£¡¡He¡¡prefaced¡¡the¡¡
meal¡¡with¡¡a¡¡fervent¡¡grace£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the¡¡widow¡¡listened¡¡with¡¡something¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡conscious¡¡attitude¡¡she¡¡had¡¡adopted¡¡at¡¡church¡¡during¡¡her¡¡late¡¡husband's¡¡
ministration£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡during¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡meal¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡ate¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡consciousness¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
¡¨company¡¡manners¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Later¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡evening¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Selby¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Hiler¡¡¡¡¡¡woke¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡truckle¡¡¡¡¡¡bed£»¡¡
listening¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡rising¡¡¡¡¡¡midnight¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡wind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡childish¡¡¡¡¡¡fancy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
confounded¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡voices¡¡that¡¡came¡¡through¡¡the¡¡open¡¡door¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡living¡room¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡recognized¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡deep¡¡¡¡¡¡voice¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡minister£»¡¡
Gideon£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡occasional¡¡¡¡¡¡tearful¡¡¡¡¡¡responses¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡mother£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
fancying¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡church¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡step£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡
preacher¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡going¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡leaned¡¡over¡¡it¡¡and¡¡
kissed¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡forehead£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡bent¡¡over¡¡his¡¡little¡¡brother¡¡and¡¡sister¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡kissed¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡too¡£¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡slowly¡¡¡¡re¡entered¡¡the¡¡living¡room¡£¡¡¡¡Lifting¡¡
himself¡¡softly¡¡on¡¡his¡¡elbow£»¡¡Selby¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡go¡¡up¡¡towards¡¡his¡¡mother£»¡¡who¡¡
was¡¡crying£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡head¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡and¡¡kiss¡¡her¡¡also¡¡on¡¡the¡¡forehead¡£¡¡
Then¡¡he¡¡said¡¡¡¨Good¡night£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡closed£»¡¡and¡¡Selby¡¡heard¡¡his¡¡
footsteps¡¡¡¡¡¡crossing¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lot¡¡¡¡¡¡towards¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡barn¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡mother¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡sitting¡¡
with¡¡her¡¡face¡¡buried¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡when¡¡he¡¡fell¡¡asleep¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡sat¡¡by¡¡the¡¡dying¡¡embers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡until¡¡the¡¡house¡¡was¡¡still¡¡again£»¡¡
then¡¡she¡¡rose¡¡and¡¡wiped¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¨Et's¡¡a¡¡good¡¡thing£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡going¡¡to¡¡
the¡¡bedroom¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡looking¡¡in¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡sleeping¡¡children£»¡¡¡¨et's¡¡a¡¡mercy¡¡
and¡¡a¡¡blessing¡¡for¡¡them¡¡andforme¡£¡¡But¡¡buthe¡¡mighthevsaidhe¡¡
loved¡¡me£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡III¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Although¡¡Gideon¡¡Deane¡¡contrived¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡nest¡¡for¡¡his¡¡blanket¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
mouldy¡¡straw¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unfinished¡¡barn¡¡loft£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡sleep¡£¡¡He¡¡restlessly¡¡
watched¡¡the¡¡stars¡¡through¡¡the¡¡cracks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boarded¡¡roof£»¡¡and¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡12¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡13¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡BY¡¡SHORE¡¡AND¡¡SEDGE¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡wind¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡open¡¡¡¡¡¡structure¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡vocal¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sea¡shell£»¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡
past¡¡midnight¡£¡¡Once¡¡or¡¡twice¡¡he¡¡had¡¡fancied¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡tramp¡¡of¡¡horse¡¡¡
hoofs¡¡on¡¡the¡¡far¡off¡¡trail£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡approach¡¡nearer£»¡¡mingled¡¡
with¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡voices¡£¡¡Gideon¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡through¡¡the¡¡
doorway¡¡of¡¡the¡¡loft¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡not¡¡mistaken£º¡¡two¡¡men¡¡had¡¡halted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡road¡¡
before¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡house£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡examining¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡uncertain¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
dwelling¡¡they¡¡were¡¡seeking£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡hesitating¡¡if¡¡they¡¡should¡¡rouse¡¡the¡¡
inmates¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thinking¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡spare¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡widow¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡disturbance¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡her¡¡
slumbers£»¡¡and¡¡possibly¡¡some¡¡alarm£»¡¡he¡¡rose¡¡quickly£»¡¡and¡¡descending¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
inclosure¡¡walked¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡men¡¡advanced¡¡
to¡¡meet¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡accident¡¡or¡¡design¡¡ranged¡¡themselves¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side¡£¡¡A¡¡
glance¡¡showed¡¡him¡¡they¡¡were¡¡strangers¡¡to¡¡the¡¡locality¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We're¡¡lookin'¡¡fer¡¡the¡¡preacher¡¡that¡¡lives¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡one£»¡¡who¡¡seemed¡¡
to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡elder¡£¡¡¡¨A¡¡man¡¡by¡¡the¡¡name¡¡o'¡¡Hiler£»¡¡I¡¡reckon£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Brother¡¡¡¡¡¡Hiler¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡dead¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡years£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡responded¡¡¡¡¡¡Gideon¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨His¡¡
widow¡¡and¡¡children¡¡live¡¡here¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡two¡¡men¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡The¡¡younger¡¡one¡¡laughed£»¡¡the¡¡elder¡¡
mumbled¡¡¡¡¡¡something¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨three¡¡¡¡¡¡years¡¡¡¡¡¡ago£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡turning¡¡
suddenly¡¡on¡¡Gideon£»¡¡said£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨P'r'aps¡¡YOU'RE¡¡a¡¡preacher£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Can¡¡you¡¡come¡¡to¡¡a¡¡dying¡¡man£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡each¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡continued¡¡¡¡¡¡Gideon£»¡¡
softly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨you'll¡¡¡¡¡¡please¡¡¡¡¡¡keep¡¡¡¡¡¡quiet¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡disturb¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡widow¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
children£»¡¡while¡¡I¡¡get¡¡my¡¡horse¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡away£»¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡man¡¡made¡¡a¡¡
movement¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡elder¡¡quickly¡¡restrained¡¡his¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡
isn't¡¡¡¡¡¡goin'¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡run¡¡¡¡¡¡away£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡whispered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Look£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡added£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡Gideon¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
moment¡¡later¡¡reappeared¡¡mounted¡¡and¡¡equipped¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡we'll¡¡be¡¡in¡¡time£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡young¡¡preacher¡¡as¡¡they¡¡rode¡¡
quickly¡¡away¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tules¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡younger¡¡repressed¡¡a¡¡laugh£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡answered¡¡grimly£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡reckon¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡is¡¡he¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡his¡¡danger£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡reckon¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡13¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡14¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡BY¡¡SHORE¡¡AND¡¡SEDGE¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Gideon¡¡did¡¡not¡¡speak¡¡again¡£¡¡But¡¡as¡¡the¡¡onus¡¡of¡¡that¡¡silence¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡
rest¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡other¡¡two£»¡¡the¡¡last¡¡speaker£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡few¡¡moments'¡¡silent¡¡and¡¡
rapid¡¡riding£»¡¡continued¡¡abruptly£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡don't¡¡seem¡¡curious£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡what£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Gideon£»¡¡lifting¡¡his¡¡soft¡¡eyes¡¡to¡¡the¡¡speaker¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡tell¡¡
me¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡brother¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡point¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡death£»¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡seeks¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Lord¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡
humble¡¡vessel¡¡like¡¡myself¡£¡¡HE¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡the¡¡rest¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡¡¡¡¡silence¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡constrained¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡part¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡strangers¡¡
followed£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡endeavored¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡from¡¡by¡¡furious¡¡riding£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡
in¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡the¡¡party¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡a¡¡point¡¡where¡¡the¡¡tules¡¡began¡¡to¡¡sap¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡arid¡¡¡¡¡¡plain£»¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡¡beyond¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡broadened¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lagoons¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡distant¡¡
river¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡foreground£»¡¡near¡¡a¡¡clump¡¡of¡¡dwarfed¡¡willows£»¡¡a¡¡camp¡fire¡¡was¡¡
burning£»¡¡around¡¡which¡¡fifteen¡¡or¡¡twenty¡¡armed¡¡men¡¡were¡¡collected£»¡¡their¡¡
horses¡¡¡¡¡¡picketed¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡outer¡¡¡¡¡¡circle¡¡¡¡¡¡guarded¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡mounted¡¡¡¡¡¡sentries¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡
blasted¡¡cotton¡wood¡¡with¡¡a¡¡single¡¡black¡¡arm¡¡extended¡¡over¡¡the¡¡tules¡¡stood¡¡
ominously¡¡against¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡sky¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡circle¡¡¡¡¡¡opened¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡receive¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡closed¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡elder¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡
dismounted¡¡and¡¡leading¡¡Gideon¡¡to¡¡the¡¡blasted¡¡cotton¡wood£»¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡
pinioned¡¡man¡¡seated¡¡at¡¡its¡¡foot¡¡with¡¡an¡¡armed¡¡guard¡¡over¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡
up¡¡at¡¡Gideon¡¡with¡¡an¡¡amused¡¡smile¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡said¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dying¡¡man£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Gideon£»¡¡recoiling¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡will¡¡be¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡man¡¡in¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour£»¡¨¡¡returned¡¡the¡¡stranger¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Vigilantes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Alamo¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡¡¡¡¡man£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡pointing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡the¡¡
prisoner£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡a¡¡gambler¡¡who¡¡killed¡¡a¡¡man¡¡yesterday¡£¡¡We¡¡hunted¡¡him¡¡here£»¡¡
tried¡¡him¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡ago£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡him¡¡guilty¡£¡¡The¡¡last¡¡man¡¡we¡¡hung¡¡here£»¡¡
three¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡a¡¡parson¡£¡¡We¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡used¡¡to¡¡
live¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡we'd¡¡¡¡¡¡give¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡same¡¡
show£»¡¡and¡¡brought¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡if¡¡I¡¡refuse£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Gideon¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡leader¡¡shrugged¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡¡¡¡¡HIS¡¡¡¡¡¡lookout£»¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡ours¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡We've¡¡¡¡¡¡given¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡chance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Drive¡¡
ahead£»¡¡boys£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡turning¡¡to¡¡the¡¡others£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡parson¡¡allows¡¡he¡¡won't¡¡
take¡¡a¡¡hand¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨One¡¡¡¡¡¡moment£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Gideon£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡desperation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨one¡¡¡¡¡¡moment£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡14¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡15¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡BY¡¡SHORE¡¡AND¡¡SEDGE¡¡
sake¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡God¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡brought¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡here¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡invoke¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡behalf¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡
wretched¡¡man¡£¡¡One¡¡moment£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡Him¡¡in¡¡whose¡¡presence¡¡you¡¡
must¡¡¡¡¡¡stand¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡does¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡passionate¡¡¡¡¡¡earnestness¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
pointed¡¡out¡¡the¡¡vindictive¡¡impulse¡¡they¡¡were¡¡mistaking¡¡for¡¡Divine¡¡justice£»¡¡
with¡¡pathetic¡¡fervency¡¡he¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡knees¡¡and¡¡implored¡¡their¡¡mercy¡¡for¡¡
the¡¡culprit¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡vain¡£¡¡As¡¡at¡¡the¡¡camp¡meeting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day¡¡before£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡
chilled¡¡to¡¡find¡¡his¡¡words¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡on¡¡unheeding¡¡and¡¡unsympathetic¡¡
ears¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡around¡¡on¡¡their¡¡abstracted¡¡faces£»¡¡in¡¡their¡¡gloomy¡¡savage¡¡
enthusiasm¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡expiatory¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sacrifice£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡horrified¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡find¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡same¡¡
unreasoning¡¡¡¡¡¡exaltation¡¡that¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡checked¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡exhortations¡¡¡¡