Part 7 (2/2)
The answer was as startling as an explosion: ”A girl!”
A swift reaction pa.s.sed over the four. They sprang to his aid.
”Hold the light up!” Sam cried breathlessly. ”Shand, grab her feet.
I've got her arms locked. G.o.d! Bites like a cat! Carry her in.” This ended in a peal of laughter.
Between them Shand and Sam carried her toward the door, staggering and laughing wildly. Their burden wriggled and plunged like a fish. They had all they could do, for she was both slippery and strong. They got her inside at last. The others crowded after, and they closed the door and barred it.
Sam, usually so quiet and wary in this company, was transformed by excitement. ”Now, let's see what we've got!” he cried. ”Put her feet down. Look out or she'll claw you!”
They set her on her feet and stood back on guard. But as soon as she was set free her resistance came to an end. She did not fly at either, but coolly turned her back and shook herself and smoothed her plumage like a ruffled bird. This unexpected docility surprised them afresh.
They watched her warily.
”A woman!” they cried in amazed tones. ”Where did she drop from?”
They instantly ascribed all the supernatural manifestations to this human cause. Everything was made clear, and a load of terror lifted from their b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
The suddenness of the reaction dizzied them a little. Each man blushed and frowned, remembering his late unmanly terrors. They were amazed, chagrined and tickled all at once.
Big Jack strode to her and held the lantern up to her face. ”She's a beauty!” he cried.
A silence succeeded that word. Four of the five men present measured his mates with sidelong looks. Sam shrugged and, resuming his ordinary circ.u.mspect air, turned away.
CHAPTER IV
THE VISITOR
The girl turned an indifferent, walled face toward the fire, refusing to look at any of the men. Her beauty grew upon them momentarily.
Their amazement knew no bounds that one like this should have been led to their door out of the night.
”Well,” said Big Jack, breaking the silence at last. ”It was a rough welcome we give you, miss. We thought you was a spook or something like that. But we're glad to see you.”
She gave no sign of having heard him.
”Was it you whistled through the keyhole and tossed a stone down the chimney?” demanded Husky.
No answer was forthcoming.
”I'm sorry if we hurt you,” added Jack.
He might as well have been addressing a wooden woman.
”I say, I'm sorry if we hurt you,” he repeated louder.
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