"He turned et the crack of my gun. He ... he seen me, and run off inter the wood thar."
There ensued a long silence. Then Donald's hand stretched out and grasped that of the sorrowing giant.
"Jerry," he said steadily. "Don't feel so bad, it wasn't your fault. You did all that man could do. You were trying to ... to save my life, just as ... as Mike was, God bless the little dog. He must have realized that Judd was following me by the exercise of a sense beyond our knowledge, and rushed back to attack him—for my sake."
"Yo' said ... yo' said ... 'Judd.' How did yo' come ter know 'twar him?"
With new and deepened remorse, Donald sadly outlined the chief incidents of the quarrel, without, however, mentioning the discovery of the still, or the immediate cause of the combat.
"Gawd help us all ef er new feud hes broken out hyar," said Jerry solemnly, as he finished. "But yo' air my friend, enjyin' ther hospitality of my roof, an' from this day Judd Amos air my mortal enemy, even though he be my next neighbor."
Donald sadly removed his coat, and, wrapping it around the body of his chum, arose, and the silent, painful journey home was begun.