Penny was somewhat taken aback by the old man's obvious agitation. "What's the matter, Gimlet? Is anything wrong?"
"That's jest it, I dunno. It seems like all hell's due tuh bust loose an' yet they ain't a thing I c'n put a finger on. They's things bilin' up, I tell yuh. I was scared damn near tuh death somethin'd happened tuh you."
"But why?"
"Yuh sure everything's all right with yuh? Yuh ain't met with no trouble?"
"What kind of trouble? Where is everyone?"
"I dunno what kind, jest trouble. Trouble like bein' shot at, or like havin' threats made at yuh."
Penny shook her head. "I rode quite a way," she said, "and didn't realize it was so late. Where is Uncle Bryant?"
It was when Gimlet replied that Penny felt her first frustration. "He's gone, an' God knows where to, or why."
"Gone," echoed the girl. "Didn't he say anything?"
"He come here tuh the kitchen, told me tuh pack some vittles in a sack, an' stayed while I done it. He took the sack, tho'wed it intuh the buckboard, which same had two strong hosses all hitched, then fetched Mort outen the house with his neck still bandaged, an' the two druv off."