said her mother.

Then old Sally brought more pork and hot pone from the ashes, and they sat down together, eating and sipping their black coffee in silence. Presently Hoyle returned and began removing his clumsy shoes, by the fire.

“Did he ax ye a heap o’ questions, Hoyle?” queried the old woman sharply.

“Naw. Did’n’ ax noth’n’.”

“Waal, look out ‘at you don’t let on nothin’ ef he does. Talkin’ may hurt, an’ hit may not.”

“He hain’t no government man, maw.”

“Hit’s all right, I reckon, but them ‘at larns young to hold ther tongues saves a heap o’