human
I know how he felt, he continued.
gpt
When Betsy died--we was only four years married--I could have crawled into a knot-hole an' died there. You got to save him, Jinny, but --he came suddenly to his feet--
human
You sit still, Uncle Tom, she rejoined.
gpt
Leave him where he is a minute. There's things must be settled first. They ain't going to look for him in my bedroom, be they?
human
I'd like to see 'em at it. You got a temper, Jinny; and you got a pistol too, eh? He chuckled again.
gpt
As good a shot as any in the mountains. I can see you darin' 'em to come on. But what if Jake come, and he found a man in your bedroom --he wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes--
human
I don't want to hear any more of that. I do what I want to do,
gpt
Well, well, you always done what you wanted; but we got to git him up the hills, till it's sure they're out o' the mountains and gone back. It'll be days, mebbe.
human
Uncle Tom, you've took too much to drink, she answered.
gpt
You don't remember he's got to be at Bindon by to-morrow noon. He's got to save his friend by then.
human
Pshaw! Who's going to take him down the river to-night? You're goin' to be married to-morrow. If you like, you can give him the canoe. It'll never come back, nor him neither!
gpt
You've been down with me, she responded suggestively.
human
And you went down once by yourself.
gpt
I ain't been so well this summer. My sight ain't what it was. I can't stand the racket as I once could. 'Pears to me I'm gettin' old. No, I couldn't take them rapids, Jinny, not for one frozen minute.
human
You wouldn't want a man to die, if you could save him, Uncle Tom--blown up, sent to Kingdom Come without any warning at all; and perhaps he's got them that love him--and the world so beautiful.
gpt
Well, it ain't nice dyin' in the summer, when it's all sun, and there's plenty everywhere; but there's no one to go down the river with him. What's his name?
human
His name's Dingley. I'm going down the river with him--down to Bindon.
gpt
What you talkin' about, Jinny! Jake's comin' up with the minister, an' you're goin' to be married at noon to-morrow.
human
I'm takin' him --she jerked her head towards the room where Dingley was --
gpt
Onct you broke off with Jake Lawson--the day before you was to be married; an' it's took years to make up an' agree again to be spliced. If Jake comes here to-morrow, and you ain't here, what do you think he'll do? The neighbours are comin' for fifty miles round, two is comin' up a hundred miles, an' you can't--Jinny, you can't do it. I bin sick of answerin' questions all these years 'bout you and Jake, an' I ain't goin' through it again. I've told more lies than there's straws in a tick.
human
Then take him down the river yourself--a man to do a man's work. Are you afeard to take the risk?
gpt
Yes, Jinny, he said sadly,
human
I'm afeard. I ain't what I was. I made a mistake, Jinny. I've took too much whiskey. I'm older than I ought to be. I oughtn't never to have had a whiskey-still, an' I wouldn't have drunk so much. I got money--money for you, Jinny, for you an' Jake, but I've lost what I'll never git back. I'm afeard to go down the river with him. I'd go smash in the Dog Nose Rapids. I got no nerve. I can't hunt the grizzly any more, nor the puma, Jinny. I got to keep to common shootin', now and henceforth, amen! No, I'd go smash in Dog Nose Rapids.
gpt
Don't you fret, Uncle Tom. You've bin a good uncle to me, and you've bin a good friend, and you ain't the first that's found whiskey too much for him. You ain't got an enemy in the mountains. Why, I've got two or three--
human
Shucks! Women--only women whose beaux left 'em to follow after you. That's nothing, an' they'll be your friends fast enough after you're married tomorrow.
gpt
I ain't going to be married to-morrow. I'm going down to Bindon to-night. If Jake's mad, then it's all over, and there'll be more trouble among the women up here.
human
No woman in the mountains ever had a petticoat like that, Jinny. It'd make a dress, it's that pretty an' neat. Golly, I'd like to see it on you, with the blue skirt over, and just hitched up a little.
gpt
Oh, shut up--shut up! she said in sudden anger, and caught up the petticoat as though she would put it away; but presently she laid it down again and smoothed it with quick, nervous fingers.
human
Can't you talk sense and leave my clothes alone? If Jake comes, and I'm not here, and he wants to make a fuss, and spoil everything, and won't wait, you give him this petticoat. You put it in his arms. I bet you'll have the laugh on him. He's got a temper.
gpt
So've you, Jinny, dear, so've you, said the old man, laughing.
human
You're goin' to have your own way, same as ever--same as ever.