look　of　a　good　man　gone　shiftless　and　fast　going　wrong。
  Soon　two　or　three　lank　brown　figures　appeared　from　each　direction　on　foot；　then　a　horseman　or　two；　and　by　and　by　mountaineers　came　in　groups；　on　horse　and　on　foot。　　In　time　the　side　alleys　and　the　court…house　square　were　filled　with　horses　and　mules；　and　even　steers。　　The　mountaineers　crowded　the　narrow　street：　idling　from　side　to　side；　squatting　for　a　bargain　on　the　wooden　sidewalks；　grouping　on　the　porch　of　the　rickety　hotel；　and　on　the　court…house　steps　loitering　in　and　out　of　the　one　store　in　sight。　Out　in　the　street　several　stood　about　a　horse；　looking　at　his　teeth；　holding　his　eyes　to　the　sun；　punching　his　ribs；　twisting　his　tail；　while　the　phlegmatic　owner　sat　astride　the　submissive　beast；　and　spoke　short　answers　to　rare　questions。　Everybody　talked　politics；　the　crop　failure；　or　the　last　fight　at　the　seat　of　some　private　war；　but　nobody　spoke　of　a　Lewallen　or　a　Stetson　unless　he　knew　his　listener's　heart；　and　said　it　in　a　whisper。　　For　nobody　knew　when　the　powder　would　flash；　or　who　had　taken　sides；　or　that　a　careless　word　might　not　array　him　with　one　or　the　other　faction。
  A　motley　throng　it　was…in　brown　or　gray　homespun；　with　trousers　in　cowhide　boots；　and　slouched　hats　with　brims　curved　according　to　temperament；　but　with　striking　figures　in　it；　the　patriarch　with　long；　white　hair；　shorn　even　with　the　base　of　the　neck；　and　bearded　only　at　the　throat…a　justice　of　the　peace；　and　the　sage　of　his　district；　a　little　mountaineer　with　curling　black　hair　and　beard；　and　dark；　fine　features；　a　grizzled　giant　with　a　head　rugged　enough　to　have　been　carelessly　chipped　from　stone；　a　bragging　candidate　claiming　everybody's　notice；　a　square…　shouldered　fellow　surging　through　the　crowd　like　a　stranger；　an　open…faced；　devil…may…　care　young　gallant　on　fire　with　moonshine；　a　skulking　figure　with　brutish　mouth　and　shifting　eyes。　　Indeed；　every　figure　seemed　distinct；　for；　living　apart　from　his　neighbor；　and　troubling　the　law　but　little　in　small　matters　of　dispute；　the　mountaineer　preserves　independence；　and　keeps　the　edges　of　his　individuality　unworn。　　Apparently　there　was　not　a　woman　in　town。　　Those　that　lived　there　kept　housed；　and　the　fact　was　significant。　　Still；　it　was　close　to　noon；　and　yet　not　a　Stetson　or　a　Lewallen　had　been　seen。　The　stores　of　Rufe　and　old　Jasper　were　at　the　extremities　of　the　town；　and　the　crowd　did　not　move　those　ways。　　It　waited　in　the　centre；　and　whetted　impatience　by　sly　trips　in　twos　and　three　to　stables　or　side　alleys　for　〃mountain　dew。〃　Now　and　then　the　sheriff；　a　little　man　with　a　mighty　voice；　would　appear　on　the　courthouse　steps；　and　summon　a　witness　to　court；　where　a　frightened　judge　gave　instructions　to　a　frightened　jury。　　But　few　went；　unless　called；　for　the　interest　was　outside；　every　man　in　the　streets　knew　that　a　storm　was　nigh；　and　was　waiting　to　see　it　burst。
  Noon　passed。　　A　hoarse　bell　and　a　whining　hound　had　announced　dinner　in　the　hotel。　　The　guests　were　coming　again　into　the　streets。　Eyes　were　brighter；　faces　a　little　more　flushed；　and　the　〃moonshine〃　was　passed　more　openly。　Both　ways　the　crowd　watched　closely。　　The　quiet　at　each　end　of　the　street　was　ominous；　and　the　delay　could　last　but　little　longer。　　The　lookers…on　themselves　were　getting　quarrelsome。　The　vent　must　come　soon；　or　among　them　there　would　be　trouble。
  Thar　comes　Jas　Lewallen！　〃　　At　last。　　A　dozen　voices　spoke　at　once。　　A　horseman　had　appeared　far　down　the　street　from　the　Lewallen　end。　　The　clouds　broke　from　about　the　sun；　and　a　dozen　men　knew　the　horse　that　bore　him；　for　the　gray　was　prancing　the　street　sidewise；　and　throwing　the　sunlight　from　his　flanks。　Nobody　followed；　and　the　crowd　was　puzzled。　Young　Jasper　carried　a　Winchester　across　his　saddle…bow；　and；　swaying　with　the　action　of　his　horse；　came　on。
  〃What　air　he　about？〃
  〃He's　a　plumb　idgit。〃
  He　mus'　be　crazy。〃
  He's　drunk！
  The　　wonder　ceased。　　Young　Jasper　was　reeling。　　Two　or　three　Stetsons　slipped　from　the　crowd；　and　there　was　a　galloping　of　hoofs　the　other　way。　　Another　horseman　appeared　from　the　Lewallen　end；　riding　hastily。　　The　new…comer's　errand　was　to　call　Jasper　back。　But　the　young　dare…devil　was　close　to　the　crowd；　and　was　swinging　a　bottle　over　his　head。
  Come　back　hyeh；　Jas！　　Come　hyeh！〃　The　new…comer　was　shouting　afar　off　while　he　galloped。　　Horses　were　being　untethered　from　the　side　alleys。　　Several　more　Lewallen　riders　came　in　sight。　　They　could　see　the　gray　shining　in　the　sunlight　amid　the　crowd；　and　the　man　sent　after　him　halted　at　a　safe　distance；　gesticulating；　and　they；　too；　spurred　forward。
  Hello；　boys！　〃　young　Jasper　was　calling　out；　as　he　swayed　from　side　to　side；　the　people　everywhere　giving　him　way。
  〃Fun　to…day；　by…　！　fun　to…day！　　Who'll　hev　a　drink？　　Hyeh's　hell　to　the　Stetsons；　whar　some　of　'em　'11　be　afore　night！
  With　a　swagger　he　lifted　the　bottle　to　his　lips；　and；　stopping　short；　let　it　fall　untouched　to　the　ground。　　He　had　straightened　in　his　saddle；　and　was　looking　up　the　street。　　With　a　deep　curse　he　threw　the　Winchester　to　his　shoulder；　fired；　and　before　his　yell　had　died　on　his　lips　horse　and　rider　were　away　like　a　shaft　of　light。　The　crowd　melted　like　magic　from　the　street。　The　Stetsons；　chiefly　on　foot；　did　not　return　the　fire；　but　halted　up　the　street；　as　if　parleying。　Young　Jasper　joined　his　party；　and　they；　too；　stood　still　a　moment；　puzzled　by　the　irresolution　of　the　other　side。
  〃Watch　out！　they're　gittin'　round　ye！　　Run　for　the　court…house；　ye　fools　！…ye；　run！　〃　　The　voice　came　in　a　loud　yell　from　somewhere　down　the　street；　and　its　warning　was　just　in　time。
  A　wreath　of　smoke　came　about　a　corner　of　the　house　far　down　the　street；　and　young　Jasper　yelled；　and　dashed　up　a　side　alley　with　his　followers。　　A　moment　later　judge；　jury；　witnesses；　and　sheriff　were　flying　down　the　court…house　steps　at　the　point　of　Lewallen　guns；　the　Lewallen　horses；　led　by　the　gray；　were　snorting　through　the　streets；　their　riders；　barricaded　in　the　forsaken　court…house；　were　puffing　a　stream　of　fire　and　smoke　from　every　window　of　court…room　below　and　jury…room　above。
  The　streets　were　a　bedlam。　　The　Stetsons　were　yelling　with　triumph。　　The　Lewallens　were　divided；　and　Rufe　placed　three　Stetsons　with　Winchesters　on　each　side　of　the　courthouse；　and　kept　them　firing。　　Rome；　pale　and　stern；　hid　his　force　between　the　square　and　the　Lewallen　store。　　He　was　none　too　quick。　　The　rest　were　coming　on；　led　by　old　Jasper。　　It　was　reckless；　riding　that　way　right　into　death；　but　the　old　man　believed　young　Jasper's　life　at　stake；　and　the　men　behind　asked　no　questions　when　old　Jasper　led　them。　　The　horses'　hoofs　beat　the　dirt　street　like　the　crescendo　of　thunder。　　The　fierce　old　man's　hat　was　gone；　and　his　mane…like　hair　was　shaking　in　the　wind。　　Louder…and　still　the　Stetsons　were　quiet…quiet　too　long。　The　wily　old　man　saw　the　trap；　and；　with　a　yell；　whirled　the　column　up　an　alley；　each　man　flattening　over　his　saddle。　　From　every　window；　from　behind　every　corner　and　tree；　smoke　belched　from　the　mouth　of　a　Winchester。　Two　horses　went　down；　one　screamed；　the　other　struggled　to　his　feet；　and　limped　away　with　an　empty　saddle。　　One　pf　the　fallen　men　sprang　into　safety　behind　a　house；　and　one　lay　still；　with　his　arms　stretched　out　and　his　face　in　the　dust。
  From　behind　barn；　house；　and　fence　the　Lewallens　gave　back　a　scattering　fire；　but　the　Stetsons　crept　closer；　and　were　plainly　in　greater　numbers。　　Old　Jasper　was　being　surrounded；　and　he　mounted　again；　and　all；　followed　by　a　chorus　of　bullets　and　triumphant　yells；　fled　for　a　wooded　slope　in　the　rear　of　the　court…house。　A　dozen　Lewallens　were　prisoners；　and　must　give　up　or　starve。　　There　was　savage　joy　in　the　Stetson　crowd；　and　many…footed　rumor　went　all　ways　that　night。
  Despite　sickness　and　Rome's　strict　order；　Isom　had　ridden　down　to　the　mill。　　Standing　in　the　doorway；　he　and　old　Gabe　saw　up　the　river；　where　the　water　broke　into　foam　over　the　ford；　a　riderless　gray　horse　plunging　across。　　Later　it　neighed　at　a　gate　under　Wolf's　Head；　and　Martha　Lewallen　ran　out　to　meet　it。　　Across　under　Thunderstruck　Knob　that　night　the　old　Stetson　mother　listened　to　Isom's　story　of　the　fight　with　ghastly　joy　in　her　death…marked　face。
  XI
  ALL　night　the　court…house　was　guarded　and　on　guard。　　At　one　corner　of　the　square　Rufe　Stetson；　with　a　few　men；　sat　on　watch　in　old　Sam　Day's　cabin…the　fortress　of　the　town；　built　for　such　a　purpose；　and　used　for　it　many　times　before。　The　prisoners；　too；　were　alert；　and　no　Stetson　ventured　into　the　open　square；　for　the　moon　was　high；　an　exposure　anywhere　was　noted　instantly　by　the　whistle　of　a　rifle…ball；　and　the　mountaineer　takes　few　risks　except　under　stress　of　drink　or　passion。　　Rome　Stetson　had　placed　pickets　about　the　town　wherever　surprise　was　possible。　　All　night　he　patrolled　the　streets　to　keep　his　men　in　such　readiness　as　he　could　for　the　attack　that　the　Lewallens　would　surely　make　to　rescue　their　living　friends　and　to　avenge　the　dead　ones。
  But　the　triumph　was　too　great　and　unexpected。　　Two　Braytons　were　dead；　several　more　were　prisoners　with　young　Jasper　in　the　courthouse；　and　drinking　began。
  As　the　night　deepened　without　attack　the　Stetsons　drank　more；　and　grew　reckless。　　A　dance　was　started。