CHAPTER XXVII.
BUMPUS CALLS FOR THREE CHEERS.
The mountaineer was the first to speak.
"'Pears like I was interruptin' a leetle fambly reunion," he remarked, drily.
At any rate, Thad noticed, there did not seem to be any great show of anger in the actions or words of the man. Nor was he leveling that terrible gun, which had doubtless brought consternation into the hearts of more than one invading group of revenue officers in times past.
Indeed, Thad was rather inclined to think Old Phin looked remarkably docile, as though his claws had been pulled, and he no longer felt that the whole world was against him.
Mr. Quail, however, did not see things in this way. He was not aware of the great change that had come about in the Dady family, that threatened to remove from the Blue Ridge the most remarkable and picturesque figure the region had ever known.
"I'm ready to make that promise you once put before me, Phin!" he cried out, as if secretly fearing that harm might fall upon the head of his venturesome boy, because of his braving the moonshiner's wrath by searching out the secret Still.
"Hit's too late fur thet, Mistah Quail!" declared the other grimly.
"But surely you wouldn't think of changing your mind now?" said the prisoner.