256 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



but the bcttle was put on the gTound outside the 

 door. 



Several minutes passed in silence, broken only 

 by the shuffling of feet on the floor. 



"There's one thing I want to say," Bull re- 

 sumed, with painful pauses between the words. 

 ''Ever since I was a shaver smaller 'n yo', Shan, 

 I've been killin' birds, night an' day, summer an' 

 winter, in season an' out o' season. It doesn't 

 matter who knows it, now, I'm payin' the price." 



There was silence in the cabin, for every one 

 felt that the sufferer had not finished. 



*'I ain't sorry," he went on, painfully, "for 

 that was my job. Right or wrong — it was my 

 job. I raised yo' on it, Shan, jest on that — 



"Yo' understand, Shan, yo' food, yo' clothin', 

 yo' keep, yo' learnin' to read — all that yo've got — 

 comes from shootin' birds — 



"I've been a-thinkin' it over. 



"Yo've got to pay that back, Shan, got to pay 

 it back — Yo' understand — I spent my life killin' 

 birds, yo've got to spend yours — savin' 'em. 



"An' — " he ended feebly, "that's my last will 

 an' testament." 



"I'll do it, Bull," said Shan, a dry choke in his 

 throat. 



