Three hours afterwards Mr. Madison Clay awoke to the sound of loud knocking.  At first this forced itself upon his consciousness as his daughter’s regular morning summons, and was responded to by a grunt of recognition and a nestling closer in the blankets.  Then he awoke with a start and a muttered oath, remembering the events of last night, and his intention to get up early, and rolled out of bed.  Becoming aware by this time that the knocking was at the outer door, and hearing the shout of a familiar voice, he hastily pulled on his boots, his jean trousers, and fastening a single suspender over his shoulder as he clattered downstairs, stood in the lower room.  The door was open, and waiting upon the threshold was his kinsman, an old ally in many a blood-feud—­Breckenridge Clay!

“You are a cool one, Mad!” said the latter in half-admiring indignation.

“What’s up?” said the bewildered Madison.

“You ought to be, and scootin’ out o’ this,” said Breckenridge grimly.  “It’s all very well to ‘know nothin’;’ but here Phil Larrabee’s friends hev just picked him up, drilled through with slugs and deader nor a crow, and now they’re lettin’ loose Larrabee’s two half-brothers on you.  And you must go like a derned fool and leave these yer things behind you in the bresh,” he went on querulously, lifting Madison Clay’s dust-coat, hat, and shotgun from his horse, which stood saddled at the door.  “Luckily I picked them up in the woods comin’ here.  Ye ain’t got more than time to get over the state line and among your folks thar afore they’ll be down on you.  Hustle, old man!  What are you gawkin’ and starin’ at?”

Madison Clay had stared amazed and bewildered—­horror-stricken.  The incidents of the past night for the first time flashed upon him clearly—­hopelessly!  The shot; his finding Salomy Jane alone in the woods; her confusion and anxiety to rid herself of him; the disappearance of the shotgun; and now this new discovery of the taking of his hat and coat for a disguise!  She had killed Phil Larrabee in that disguise, after provoking his first harmless shot!  She, his own child, Salomy Jane, had disgraced herself by a man’s crime; had disgraced him by usurping his right, and taking a mean advantage, by deceit, of a foe!

“Gimme that gun,” he said hoarsely.

Breckenridge handed him the gun in wonder and slowly gathering suspicion.  Madison examined nipple and muzzle; one barrel had been discharged.  It was true!  The gun dropped from his hand.

“Look here, old man,” said Breckenridge, with a darkening face, “there’s bin no foul play here.  Thar’s bin no hiring of men, no deputy to do this job.  You did it fair and square—­yourself?”

“Yes, by God!” burst out Madison Clay in a hoarse voice.  “Who says I didn’t?”

Reassured, yet believing that Madison Clay had nerved himself for the act by an over-draught of whiskey, which had affected his memory, Breckenridge said curtly, “Then wake up and ‘lite’ out, ef ye want me to stand by you.”