This was most reassuring, and the old woman felt much better. But the next morning she complained bitterly:

“I tested ever' one o' them yaller coins las' night, they mout a put a counterfeit in the lot, an' see heah, Hillard—” she grinned showing her teeth—“I wore my teeth to the quick a testin' 'em!”

The next week, as the train took the Bishop away, he stood on the rear platform to cry good-bye to Shiloh and Jack Bracken who were down to see him off. By his side was a stooped figure and as the old man jingled some gold in his pocket he said, patting the figure on the back:

“You'll come back a man, Cap'n Tom—thank God! a man ag'in!”


PART FIFTH.—THE LOOM


CHAPTER I