Peter only paused to see the dying deer come rushing in
from the Bay Path, the swift plunge of the horseman who
followed him, and his meeting with Mary, when he left his
hiding-place, and, reaching the path by a circuit that hid
him from observation, he ran as fast as his slender legs
could carry him for the village. Before reaching the first
cabin, he had examined to see if there were any signs of life
around it, and, catching sight of a head with an old woman's
cap on it, he beckoned furiously with his hand ; and the
wearer, frill of greedy curiosity, came out to meet him.
" What is the matter now ?" exclaimed the old woman,
with her palms deprecatingly spread towards the boy.
" Oh ! there's the greatest row up on the hUl you ever see,"
replied Peter.
"What is it?"

" Oh ! it's the darndest row 't ever happened in this old
plantation."

" Why ! you scare me, Peter. Do tell me about it !"



86 THEBAYPATH.
" "Well, you see— you know Tom, don't you— Mary Pyn-
cton's deer ? Oh ! you've no idea anything about it. I
can't stop — I've got to go to Old Pynchon's, and rout 'im
out. It's the greatest kind of a row."

" Now you must tell me, Peter ; I shall die — I know I
shall, if you don't," exclaimed the old woman, with one
hand on her hip and the other on her heart.
