I never done a thing, and I'm going to tell him so." "Aw, go on and tell him, yuh--!" snapped Billy.

"Only yuh don't want to get absent-minded enough to come back--not whilst I'm here; things unpleasant might happen." He stood in the doorway and watched while the Pilgrim saddled his horse and rode away.

When not even the pluckety-pluck of his horse's feet came back to offend the ears of him, Charming Billy put away his gun and went in and hoisted the overturned table upon its legs again.

A coarse, earthenware plate, which the Pilgrim had used for his breakfast, lay unbroken at the feet of him.

Billy picked it up, went to the door and cast it violently forth, watching with grim satisfaction the pieces when they scattered over the frozen ground.