"I were goin' to warn 'em an' holp 'em ef I cain."
"Well, go on, but don't stir 'em up," Abe cautioned him. "Don't say a word about the raid. I'll be over there with some other fellers soon after sundown. We'll just tell 'em it's a he party come over for a story-tellin' an' a rassle. I reckon we'll have some fun. Ride on over and take supper with 'em. They're worth knowing."
In a few minutes the minister mounted his horse and rode away followed by his big dog.
"If I was you I wouldn't go," said Berry.
"Why not?"
"It'll hurt trade. Let the rest of Traylor's friends go over. There's enough of 'em."
"We must all stand as one man for law and order," said Abe. "If we don't there won't be any."
As soon as Abe had had his supper he went from house to house and asked the men to come to his store for a piece of important business. When they had come he told them what was in the wind. Soon after that hour Abe and Philemon Morris, and Alexander Ferguson, and Martin Waddell and Robert Johnson and Joshua Miller and Jack Kelso and Samuel Hill and John McNeil set out for the Traylor cabin. Doctors Allen and Regnier and James Rutledge and John Cameron and Isaac Gollaher, being older men, were requested to remain in the village and to use their guns, if necessary, to prevent a demonstration there. Samson greeted the party with a look of surprise.
"Have you come out to hang me?" he asked.
"No just to hang around ye," said Abe.