"The Lord have mercy upon me, a miserable sinner! What is the boys a-coming to in these times, anyhow? This mustn't go, noways!"

And then she did a very sly thing.

The challenge was written on a sheet of very thick, white note paper. It filled only the first page. Miss Sibby tore off the written page, folded it in its own folds, and put it in her pocket. Then she took the blank half of the sheet, folded it, also, and put it back into the envelope.

Lastly, she wet the gummed edges of the envelope, and stuck them down, fastening the note much more securely than she had found it.

"Now, then, Roland will make a fool of hisself carrying of a blank note.

And I will take myself off to Mondreer, soon as ever I can go, and I will show this here challenge to Mr. Force. And he, being a justice of the peace, will be bound to send out a warrant to 'rest up that b.l.o.o.d.y-minded young rip of a cousin of hizzen! Lor'! what a time there'll be!"

CHAPTER XXIX

A YOUNG FIRE EATER

When the family and guests of Mondreer arose the next morning, they found the ground covered with snow, but the sky was clear and bright.

The squire and the rector went out on the front porch to look at the weather, just in time to see old Miss Sibby Bayard, in her brown riding skirt and beaver-cloth jacket and hood, ambling up to the house on her slow, but sure-footed, old, white mule.

Both gentlemen stepped down to the horse block to meet and help her to dismount.

"I reckon as you're surprised to see me here, especially at this hour of the morning?" said the old lady, as she lumbered heavily down from her seat.

"We are glad to see you, at any rate, neighbor," said the kind-hearted squire.

"Thanky'! I'm glad to see you, squire, though I wish I had come on more pleasanter business," replied the old lady, as she waddled toward the house.

"I hope nothing has gone amiss with you," said Mr. Force, whom recent events had made somewhat apprehensive.

"Well, not gone amiss, exactly; but going amiss, I tell you all good, unless it is put a stop to! And, Parson Peters, I'm mighty glad to fall in long o' you here! I think it is downright providential--that I do! Because your counsel may be of great vally in this case. 'Two heads is better than one,' sez I, even if one is a cabbage head, sez I."

By this time they had entered the house, and Mr. Force was about to open the parlor door to admit the visitor to the presence of his wife, but she stopped him, hastily, nervously saying:

"No, no, not in there, on no account! This ain't no news for ladies' ears, and I don't want to send none of them into hysterick fits! Let me go into your office, where you do business."

"What is the nature of your business?" anxiously inquired Mr. Force, as he led the way to the rear of the house.

"Life or death! Murder and hanging, for aught I know! And that's the last word I'm a-going to speak till we get inside o' your office, and lock the door after us."

In great anxiety--for his suspicions immediately flew to Leonidas and Anglesea--Mr. Force led the way into his sanctum, secured it against intrusion, and seated his guests, and awaited the further communication of the last comer. What would it be? Had Leonidas made a fatal a.s.sault upon Anglesea? Had Miss Bayard learned the fact through Le's bosom friend, Roland Bayard?

Miss Sibby seemed in no hurry to communicate her business.

"Is that door locked?" she inquired.

"Fast," replied Mr. Force.

"Could anybody hear us if they was to listen at the keyhole?"

"No one about the house would be guilty of such an impropriety."

"I don't know that."

Mr. Force got up, took an overcoat from a hook on the wall and hung it against the door.

"Now, then!" he said, resuming his seat.

"Now, then!" said Miss Sibby, fumbling in her pocket, producing a neatly folded, white paper, and handing it to the squire. "Now, then, what do you think of that for a b.l.o.o.d.y-minded young wilyun? Oh, I tell yer, boys is the devil!"

Mr. Force unfolded and read the paper, staring at it in dismay.

"How came you by this?" he inquired.

"Interslipted of it!" she replied.

"Then this never reached its destination?"

"Eh?"

"This never was delivered?"

"Not much! There'd 'a' been murder done before this if it had been! And there'll be murder done yet if there ain't a stop put to it! Let me tell you all how and about it."

And, while the squire and the rector listened, with the most painful interest, Miss Sibby told of Leonidas Force's sudden visit of the previous afternoon, of her suspicions, and of her seizing an opportunity afforded and opening the envelope, taking out the sheet of note paper, tearing off the half containing the challenge, folding and replacing the other leaf, and finally closing up the envelope, and returning it to its place.

"My wagabone of a 'dopted nevvy took the note without suspicion, and went off with it. I'd like to 'a' seen that colonel's face when he opened it and found nothing but a blank paper! Howsever, I haven't seen hair nor hide of my scamp since, so I don't know how it all ended! And I don't know where he is! But naught's never in danger, and I reckon as he is safe and sound with t'other scamp at Greenbushes."

"What do you think of this, now, for a mad missive? Oh, read it out--read it out! I know how it looks! I want to hear how it sounds!" said the squire, as he pa.s.sed the challenge over to the rector, and watched the latter staring at the lines.

And, with his hair gradually rising on end, the good man read as follows:

"Greenbushes, December 21, 18--,

"To Col. Angus Anglesea--Sir: You are not only a disgrace to your uniform, but a dishonor to the human form! You are a thief, a liar and a coward! I have written your character in ink, and I mean to seal it in blood! The bearer of this will meet any man you may appoint to make arrangements. I have the honor to be,

"Le Force."

"The boy is mad!" said the rector, as he returned the paper and wiped his spectacles.

"And now, what is to be done?" inquired the squire.

"'What's to be done?'" exclaimed Miss Sibby, excitedly. "There ain't but one thing to be done! You are a justice of the peace, and ought to know what that is! Here I lay a complaint, and lay before you the evidence that two young men are planning a breach of the peace that may end in murder or hanging, or the State prison, at the least, and you ask what's to be done!

I'll tell you, then! Give out a warrant to take 'em both up, and fetch 'em before you, and make 'em give bonds to keep the peace, or else send 'em to prison! Let's you and me deal by our own young rascals just as we would by any other's. I make the complaint. You give out the warrant and haul 'em up for judgment. Now, I have done my duty. You do your'n!"

"But my poor Le! And he acts in vindication of my daughter!" sighed the squire.

"'Poor Le,' indeed! It would be poor Le if he was between the four walls of a jail, waiting of his trial for murder! Haul 'em up, squire! Haul 'em up! Make the two young wilyuns--as will break our hearts if you don't--give bonds to keep the peace! It's onpleasant, I know, but not half as onpleasant as murder and hanging."