Uncle Dick, meantime, was busy with sterner thoughts, and his task was harmonious to his musings, for he was cleaning and oiling his rifle with punctilious care. He did not hasten over-much at either the thinking or the work. The shades of night were drawing down when, finally, he hung the immaculate weapon on its hooks. He ate in solitary silence, served by Alvira, who ventured no intrusion on this mood of remoteness with which she was familiar from experience. The old man had determined to go forth and seize, and deliver 172 to the custody of the law, the person of Dan Hodges. At the best, he would surprise the outlaw, and the achievement would be simple enough; at the worst, there would be a duel. Uncle Dick had no fear over the outcome. He believed himself quicker and surer with the rifle than this scoundrel of half his years. At grips, of course he would have no chance. But the affair would not come to grips. He would see to that. He went to bed contentedly, and slept the peaceful sleep of wholesome age, undisturbed by any bickerings of conscience.
It was while he was dressing, next morning, that a measure of prudence occurred to Uncle Dick. During the period of his absence, it would be well for Plutina to avoid risk by keeping in the cabin, with her rifle at hand. There was no telling how audacious the moonshiner might become in his rage over the ignominy to which the girl had subjected him.
At the breakfast-table, he spoke sharply to Alvira, as she placed the plate of fried ham and eggs before him.
“Tell Tiny, I’m a-wantin’ her.”
“Tiny hain’t hyar yit,” was the answer. “Hit’s time she was.”
“Whar’s she gone!” Uncle Dick demanded, gruffly. He detested any interruption of his plans.
“Tiny stayed over to the Widder Higgins’s las’ 173 night,” Alvira explained. “Hit’s time she come back.”
Uncle Dick snorted with indignation.
“She didn’t say nothin’ to me ’bout stayin’ over thar,” he said crossly.
“Nor to me, nuther,” Alvira declared. “She never does beforehand. When the Widder Higgins kind o’ hangs on, Tiny jest stays, an’ comes back in the mornin’. She orter been ’ere afore now.”