Part 31 (1/2)
”Katie, darling, Katie,” was whispered again--”water!”
Water! How could she get it? The spring was on the other side of the house, and the men were in the front; she could hear them still talking loudly over their plunder. If she went, they would seize her. If she appealed to them for help, they would rob _him_ of what little life remained. What could she do? She could do nothing, she told herself despairingly--nothing but wait, and perhaps the wretches would go.
But it was not dark now. A dull light seemed to play through the window above their heads, as turning, she knew that it was smoke that she could see; and, starting to her feet, she found that, at the height of her lips, it was so dense that she could not breathe.
Was there to be no end to the perils of that fearful night? Was death to come in another and more terrible form? After escaping ma.s.sacre at the hand of their ruthless enemies, were they to meet death by the lingering torture of fire?
The dread of this new alternative roused Katie into action. This was a peril that could be battled with, and they could escape if the men in front would but go. She whispered a few words to Murray, and he answered calmly and sensibly. She told him not to fear.
”Only for you,” he murmured; and for a brief moment all was still.
Then, starting once more into action, Katie asked him if he could rise, and he tried to do so, but only to fall back despairingly, when, creeping to the door, she softly lifted the latch, and pushed it a little open, so as to breathe once more the pure night air. She dared not open it far, for the voices were loud, and close at hand; but though she could not see the speakers, she could make out the reflection of their work in the bright glow lighting up the palm-like foliage around.
And now a fierce, low, crackling noise fell upon her ears, and she crept back hastily to where Murray lay, seized him in her arms, and tried to drag him towards the door, but in vain. She could only move him a few inches at a time, so perfectly helpless was he.
”It is of no use, darling,” he whispered. ”Go, glide out of the door, and make for the woods; you may escape. I cannot move; pray go; for my sake--for my sake, love!”
”Go--go--where?” murmured the trembling girl, as she still tried to move him.
”To the woods--hide somewhere--the place is on fire!” he gasped; ”and G.o.d in heaven give me strength, for I cannot help her!”
”Hush, Ned, hus.h.!.+” she whispered; ”we shall be heard. Now try--try once more;” and she dragged at him with all her strength, so that he lay in the middle of the shed.
”No, no; I shall only draw you back to destruction,” he faintly said.
”Never mind me. Escape, darling. You know the paths, and can hide, or make your way to where you can get help. Don't stay. Look, look!” he whispered.
”I see,” she murmured.
And as she spoke, a bright tongue of flame began to lick the s.h.i.+ngles of the roof, gilding them with its fierce fiery slaver, till first one and then another began to glow; and sparks and flakes fell from them, illumining the interior of the shed; while soon an opening appeared, through which the flames rushed careering out, the heat the while becoming insupportable.
”Katie, dear,” sighed the wounded man, ”would you add torture to my death?”
”No, no,” she sobbed, as she dragged him nearer the door. ”Are we not one?” And she sank exhausted by his side, to lay her face upon his arm.
”Ned, my own Ned! pray--pray to heaven that our death may come quickly, and that we may wake soon where there is peace. I can do no more.”
As her simple words fell upon his ear, a loud demoniac drunken shout rose from outside, apparently close by the door; and from the trampling, mingled with the roar of the flames, it was evident that the ruffians were taking their departure.
Nerving himself for a last effort, Murray half lifted himself into a sitting position, fell back, struggled up again; and Katie rose to her knees.
”Try again--again,” he gasped; for he felt that she would not leave him; and together they struggled almost to the door, when, half-suffocated, the young man fell back once more. ”Now go; leave me. You can escape yet, Katie,” he gasped. ”O, if I had strength!”
But for answer he felt the two soft clinging arms round his neck, and a choking voice breathed two words in his ear:
”Forever!”
But the dread of the impending death seemed to give strength--the strength he had prayed for; and straggling a few inches at a time, with the red-hot embers gathering where they had lain but a few minutes before, and the flames crawling and dancing round the side of the house, Murray, now hardly aided by the fainting girl, contrived to reach the door, with one hand to thrust it back, so that a rush of air darted in, driving from them the smoke, as he uttered a loud cry for help.
The cry was heard; and they were seen for an instant ere the cloud of smoke wrapped them again in its folds. Two men darted forward to seize the prize, one of them, however, being daunted by the threatening roof, which, ruddy and golden, seemed ready to fall; while the other seized Katie's dress in his hands to drag her out; but so tightly did she cling to Murray, that he was drawn forward and half raised before sinking back into the cloud of falling sparks and smoke.