— ”

Cassandra patted the child on his shoulder. “He can’t beah to tell hu-come he is hurted this way, he is that proud. It was a mean, bad, coward man fetched him such a blow across the face. He asked little son something, and when Hoyle nevah said a word, he just lifted his arm and hit him, and then rode off like he had pleased himself.” A flush of anger kindled in her cheeks. “Nevah mind, son. Doctah can fix you up all right.”

A sigh of relief trembled through the boy’s lips, and David asked no more questions.

“You hain’t goin’ to tie me up that-a-way, be you?” He pointed to the bed whereon his mother lay, and they all laughed, relieving the tension.