"Don't tell her."
"You don't know Jemmy!—I have it. Lige shall come and get the baby."
Cupping her hands about her mouth she let out a peculiar, clear yodel that promptly brought an answering call from the top of the ravine. In response to Jacqueline's peremptory, "Come here!" her faithful lieutenant descended with manifest reluctance.
Ten yards from the cabin he halted. "I dassent come no furder, Miss Jacky, not for nobody," he pleaded.
"Don't be a coward! The ha'nts won't hurt you. I come here every day, and they never hurt me."
"No 'm, reck'n dey knows dere place—Dey's culled ha'nts," explained Lige, and stayed where he was.
But as Jacqueline put the child in his arms, he suddenly let out a frightened yell. "I sees smoke—oh, my Lawd! I sees smoke an' fire an' brimstone comin' out'n dat cabin!" he gasped, and fled, clutching the placid Kitty.
Jacqueline chuckled. "He saw the smoke from your cigarette," she explained to Channing. "Naturally he thought that it was a little manifestation from hell for his benefit. He's got religion, you see. So much the better. Now we'll never be disturbed here!"
The "we" amused Channing. It was evident that he was expected to call again at the Ruin.