Page:November Joe.pdf/61

 November in his quiet voice. But now its quietness carried a menace.

"Do what? I did n't—I—" Highamson paused, and there was something unquestionably fine about the old man as he added: "No, I won't lie. It's true I shot Hal Lyon. And, what's more, if it was to do again, I'd do it again! It's the best deed I ever done; yes, I say that, though I know it's written in the book: 'Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.

"Why did you do it?" repeated November.

Highamson gave him a look.

"I'll tell you. I did it for my little Janey's sake. He was her husband. See here! I'll tell you why I shot Hal Lyon. Along of the first week of last month I went away back into the woods trapping musk-rats. I was gone more 'n the month, and the day I come back I did as I did to-night, as I always do first thing when I gets in—I went over to see Janey. Hal Lyon were n't there; if he had been, I should n't never 'a' needed to travel so far to get even with him. But that's neither here nor there. He'd gone to his bear traps above Big Tree; but the night