“Not unless you make me.”

“Why I could chaw you all up.”

“I know that.”

“Well, you’re the grittiest feller I ever did see, and ef you’d jest kep off of my ground I wouldn’t a touched you.  But I a’n’t a-goin’ to be cut out by no feller a livin’ ‘thout thrashin’ him in an inch of his life.  You see I wanted to git out of this Flat Crick way.  We’re a low-lived set here in Flat Crick.  And I says to myself, I’ll try to be somethin’ more nor Pete Jones, and dad, and these other triflin’, good-fer-nothin’ ones ’bout here.  And when you come I says, There’s one as’ll help me.  And what do you do with yor book-larnin’ and town manners but start right out to git away the gal that I’d picked out, when I’d picked her out kase I thought, not bein’ Flat Crick born herself, she might help a feller to do better!  Now I won’t let nobody cut me out without givin’ ‘em the best thrashin’ it’s in these ’ere arms to give.”

“But I haven’t tried to cut you out.”

“You can’t fool me.”

“Bud, listen to me, and then thrash me if you will.  I went with that girl once.  When I found you had some claims, I gave her up.  Not because I was afraid of you, for I would rather have taken the worst thrashing you can give me than give her up.  But I haven’t spoken to her since the night of the first spelling-school.”

“You lie!” said Bud, doubling his fists.

Ralph grew red.

“You was a-waitin’ on her last Sunday right afore my eyes, and a-tryin’ to ketch my attention too.  So when you’re ready say so.”

“Bud, there is some misunderstanding.”  Hartsook spoke slowly and felt bewildered.  “I tell you that I did not speak to Hannah last Sunday, and you know I didn’t.”

“Hanner!” Bud’s eyes grew large.  “Hanner!” Here he gasped for breath, and looked around, “Hanner!” He couldn’t get any further than the name at first.  “Why, plague take it, who said Hanner?”

“Mirandy said you were courting Hannah,” said Ralph, feeling round in a vague way to get his ideas together.

“Mirandy!  Thunder!  You believed Mirandy!  Well!  Now, looky here, Mr. Hartsook, ef you was to say that my sister lied, I’d lick you till yer hide wouldn’t hold shucks.  But I say, a-twix you and me and the gate-post, don’t you never believe nothing that Mirandy Means says.  Her and marm has set theirselves like fools to git you.  Hanner!  Well, she’s a mighty nice gal, but you’re welcome to her.  I never tuck no shine that air way.  But I was out of school last Thursday and Friday a-shucking corn to take to mill a-Saturday.  And when I come past the Squire’s and seed you talking to a gal as is a gal, you know”—­here Bud hesitated and looked foolish—­“I felt hoppin’ mad.”

Bud put on his coat.

Ralph put on his coat.