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 his shot-gun covering the group, roared, "Silence!" Then he turned to the minister.

"Merry them two, suh, and do it immejit," he said.

"Oh, Paw!" said Amandy.

"Silence, gal," said her father.

"I won't merry him," said Amandy.

"Don't you if you don't want to, Amandy," said Billy.

Brother Brandram intervened.

"If the young lady doesn't want to marry this young man, I can't do it," said he.

Bill lifted his gun.

"You kin and you will, or I'll kill you all and fire the raynch and kill the pinto and blow my head off," said Bill.

"Steady," said Billy Prentiss. "I'm ready to merry her, and Amandy knows it, for I've bin askin' her this twelve months, but I'd far ruther perish here in my tracks than merry her agin' her will."

"Then you kin hev five minutes to preepare," said Higginson. "Mr. Brandram, say your prayers with him or indooce him to merry her. My last word is said."