on a chest close by sat another with her lover； courting in the most open and primitive manner。 In the corner an old grandam dozed with her pipe； her withered face just touched by the rim of the firelight。 Near a rectangular hole in the wall which served the purpose of a window； stood a girl whose face； silhouetted against the darkness； had in it a curious mixture of childishness and maturity。
〃Whar's the baby？ 〃 asked Uncle Tommy。
Somebody outside was admiring it； and the young girl leaned through the window and lifted the infant within。
Thar's a baby fer ye！ 〃 exclaimed the old mountaineer； proudly； lifting it in the air and turning its face to the light。 But the child was peevish and fretful； and he handed it back gently。 Clayton was wondering which was the mother； when； to his amazement； almost to his confusion； the girl lifted the child calmly to her own breast。 The child was the mother of the child。 She was barely fifteen； with the face of a girl of twelve； and her motherly manner had struck him as an odd contrast。 He felt a thrill of pity for the young mother as he called to mind the aged young wives he had seen who were haggard and care…worn at thirty； and who still managed to live to an old age。 He was indefinably glad that Easter had escaped such a fate。 When he left the cabin； the old man called after him from the door：
〃Thar's goin' to be a shootin'…match among the boys to…morrer； 'n' I jedge that Easter '11 be on hand。 She al'ays is。〃
〃Is that so？ 〃 said Clayton。 〃 Well； I'll look out for it。〃
The old mountaineer lowered his voice。
〃Ye hain't thinkin' about takin' a wife； air ye？〃
〃No； no！〃
〃 Well； ef ye air；〃 said the old man； slowly； 〃I'm a…thinkin' yu'll have to buck up ag'in Sherd Raines； fer ef I hain't like a goose a…pickin' o' grass by moonshine； Sherd air atter the gal fer hisself； not fer the Lord。 Yes；〃 he continued； after a short； dry laugh； 〃'n' mebbe ye'll hav to keep an eye open fer old Bill。 They say that he air mighty low down； 'n' kind o' sorry 'n' skeery； for I reckon Sherd Raines hev told him he hav got to pay the penalty fer takin' a human life； but I wouldn't sot much on his bein' sorry ef he was mad at me and had licker in him。 He hates furriners； and he has a crazy idee that they is all raiders 'n' lookin' fer him。〃
〃I don't think I'll bother him；〃 said Clayton； turning away with a laugh。 〃Good…night t〃 With a little cackle of incredulity； the old man closed the door。 The camp had sunk now to perfect quiet； but for the faint notes of a banjo far up the glen； not a sound trembled on the night air。
The rim of the moon was just visible above the mountain on which Easter…what a pretty name that was ！…had flashed upon his vision with such theatric effect。 As its brilliant light came slowly down the dark mountain…side； the mists seemed to loosen their white arms； and to creep away like ghosts mistaking the light for dawn。 With the base of the mountain in dense shadow； its crest； uplifted through the vapors； seemed poised in the air at a startling height。 Yet it was near the crest that he had met her。 Clayton paused a moment； when he reached his door； to look again。 Where in that cloud…land could she live？
III
WHEN the great bell struck the hour of the next noon； mountaineers with long rifles across their shoulders were moving through the camp。 The glen opened into a valley； which； blocked on the east by Pine Mountain； was thus shut in on every side by wooded heights。 Here the marksmen gathered。 All were mountaineers； lank； bearded； men； coatless for the most part； and dressed in brown home…made jeans； slouched； formless hats； and high； coarse boots。 Sun and wind had tanned their faces to sympathy； in color； with their clothes； which had the dun look of the soil。 They seemed peculiarly a race of the soil； to have sprung as they were from the earth； which had left indelible stains upon them。 All carried long rifles； old…fashioned and home…made； some even with flint…locks。 It was Saturday； and many of their wives had come with them to the camp。 These stood near； huddled into a listless group； with their faces half hidden in check bonnets of various colors。 A barbaric love of color was apparent in bonnet； shawl； and gown； and surprisingly in contrast with such crudeness of taste was a face when fully seen； so modest was it。 The features were always delicately wrought； and softened sometimes by a look of patient suffering almost into refinement。
On the other side of the contestants were the people of the camp； a few miners with pipes lounging on the ground； and women and girls； who returned the furtive glances of the mountain women with stares of curiosity and low laughter。
Clayton had been delayed by his work； and the match was already going on when he reached the grounds。
〃You've missed mighty fine shootin'；〃 said Uncle Tommy Brooks； who was squatted on the ground near the group of marksmen。
Sherd's been a…beatin' ever'body。 I'm afeard Easter hain't a…comm'。 The match is 'most over now。 Ef she'd been here； I don't think Sherd would 'a' got the ch'ice parts o' that beef so easy。〃
〃Which is he？ 〃 asked Clayton。
That tall feller thar loadin' his gun。〃
〃What did you say his name was？
〃 Sherd Raines； the feller that's goin' to be our circuit…rider。〃
He remembered the peculiar name。 So this was Easter's lover。 Clayton looked at the young mountaineer； curiously at first； and then with growing interest。 His quiet air of authority among his fellows was like a birthright； it seemed assumed and accepted unconsciously。 His face was smooth； and he was fuller in figure than the rest； but still sinewy and lank； though not awkward； his movements were too quick and decisive for that。 With a casual glance Clayton had wondered what secret influence could have turned to spiritual things a man so merely animal…like in face and physique； but when the mountaineer thrust back his hat； elemental strength and seriousness were apparent in the square brow； the steady eye； the poise of the head； and in lines around the strong mouth and chin in which the struggle for self…mastery had been traced。
As the mountaineer thrust his ramrod back into its casing； he glanced at the woods behind Clayton； and said something to his companions。 They； too； raised their eyes； and at the same moment the old mountaineer plucked Clayton by the sleeve。
〃Thar comes Easter now。〃
The girl had just emerged from the edge of the forest； and with a rifle on one shoulder and a bullet…pouch and powder…horn swung from the other； was slowly coming down the path。
〃 Why； how air ye； Easter？ 〃 cried the old man； heartily。 〃 Goin' to shoot； air ye？ I 'lowed ye wouldn't miss this。 Ye air mighty late； though。〃
Oh； I only wanted a turkey；〃 said the girl。 〃Well； I'm a…comm' up to eat dinner with ye to…morrer；〃 he answered； with a laugh； 〃 fer I know ye'll git one。 Y'u're on hand fer most o' the matches now。 Wild turkeys must be a…gittin' skeerce。〃
The girl smiled； showing a row of brilliant teeth between her thin； red lips； and； without answering； moved toward the group of mountain women。 Clayton had raised his hand to his hat when the old man addressed her； but he dropped it quickly to his side in no little embarrassment when the girl carelessly glanced over him with no sign of recognition。 Her rifle was an old flint…lock of light build； but nearly six feet in length； with a shade of rusty tin two feet long fastened to the barrel to prevent the sunlight from affecting the marksman's aim。 She wore a man's hat； which； with unintentional coquetry； was perched on one side of her head。 Her hair was short； and fell as it pleased about her neck。 She was bare…footed； and apparently clad in a single garment； a blue homespun gown； gathered loosely at her uncorseted waist； and showing the outline of the bust and every movement of the tall； supple form beneath。 Her appearance had quickened the interest of the spectators； and apparently was a disturbing influence among the contestants； who were gathered together； evidently in dispute。 From their glances Clayton saw that Easter was the subject of it。
〃I guess they don't want her to shoot…them that hain't won nothin'；〃 said Uncle Tommy。
She hev come in late；〃 Clayton heard one say； 〃 'n' she oughtn' to shoot。 Thar hain't no chance shootin' ag'in her noways； 'n' I'm in favor o' barrin' her out。〃
Oh no； let her shoot 〃…the voice was Raines's。 〃Thar hain't nothin' but a few turkeys left； 'n' ye'd better bar out the gun 'stid o' the gal； anyway； fer that gun kin outshoot any…thing in the mountains。〃
The girl had been silently watching the group as if puzzled； and when Raines spoke her face tightened with sudden decision； and she strode swiftly toward them in time to overhear the young mountaineer's last words。
So hit's the gun； is hit； Sherd Raines？
The crowd turned； and Raines shrank a little as the girl faced him with flashing eyes。 〃So hit's the gun； is hit？ Hit is a good gun； but ye ought to be ashamed to take all the credit 'way from me。 But ef you air so sartain hit's the gun；〃 she continued； 〃I'll shoot yourn； 'n' y'u kin hev mine ef I don't beat ye with yer own gun。〃
〃Good fer you； Easter！〃 shouted the old mountaineer。
Raines had recovered himself； and was looking at the girl seriously。 Several of his companions urged him aloud to accept the challenge； but he paid no heed to them。 He seemed to be debating the question with himself； and a moment later he said； quietly：
〃'N' you kin hev mine ef I don't beat you。〃
This was all he said； but he kept his eyes fixed on the girl's face； and when； with a defiant glance； she turned toward the mountain women； he followed and stopped her。
〃Easter；〃 Clayton heard him say； in a low； slow voice； 〃I was tryin' to git ye a chance to shoot； fer ye hev been winnin' so much that it's hard to git up a match when ye air in it。〃 The hard look on the girl's face remained unchanged； and the mountaineer continued； firmly：
〃'N' I told the truth； fer ef ye pin me down； I do think hit is the gun。〃
〃 Jes you wait 'n' see；〃 answered the girl； shortly； and Raines； after a questioning look； rejoined the group。
〃I won't take the gun ef I win it；〃 he said to them； 〃b