He had his gun across his pommel. I had seen him before. It was young Harney Shepherdson. I heard Buck's gun go off at my ear, and Harney's hat tumbled off from his head. He grabbed his gun and rode straight to the place where we was hid. But we didn't wait. We started through the woods on a run. The woods warn't thick, so I looked over my shoulder, to dodge the bullet, and twice I seen Harney cover Buck with his gun; and then he rode away the way he come- to get his hat, I reckon, but I couldn't see. We never stopped running till we got home. The old gentleman's eyes blazed a minute- 'twas pleasure, mainly, I judged- then his face sort of smoothed down and he says, kind of gentle:
? ? ? ? "I don't like that shooting from behind a bush. Why didn't you step into the road, my boy?"
? ? ? ? "The Shepherdsons don't, father. They always take advantage."
? ? ? ? Miss Charlotte she held her head up like a queen while Buck was telling his tale and her nostrils spread and her eyes snapped. The two young men looked dark, but never said nothing. Miss Sophia she turned pale, but the color came back when she found the man warn't hurt.
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