Part 29 (2/2)

The man had ceased his work and was now slowly descending the iron trellis.

”All right, he's coming,” said Stangate to his startled companions.

”It's all right, Mary. Don't be frightened, any of you. It's absurd to suppose he would really weaken the cord that holds us.”

A pair of high boots appeared from above. Then came the leathern breeches, the belt with its dangling tools, the muscular form, and, finally, the fierce, swarthy, eagle face of the workman. His coat was off and his s.h.i.+rt open, showing the hairy chest. As he appeared there came another sharp snapping vibration from above. The man made his way down in leisurely fas.h.i.+on, and then, balancing himself upon the cross-girder and leaning against the side piece, he stood with folded arms, looking from under his heavy black brows at the huddled pa.s.sengers upon the platform.

”Hallo!” said Stangate. ”What's the matter?”

The man stood impa.s.sive and silent, with something indescribably menacing in his fixed, unwinking stare.

The flying officer grew angry.

”Hallo! Are you deaf?” he cried. ”How long do you mean to have us stuck here?”

The man stood silent. There was something devilish in his appearance.

”I'll complain of you, my lad,” said Billy, in a quivering voice. ”This won't stop here, I can promise you.”

”Look here!” cried the officer. ”We have ladies here and you are alarming them. Why are we stuck here? Has the machinery gone wrong?”

”You are here,” said the man, ”because I have put a wedge against the hawser above you.”

”You fouled the line! How dared you do such a thing! What right have you to frighten the women and put us all to this inconvenience? Take that wedge out this instant, or it will be the worse for you.”

The man was silent.

”Do you hear what I say? Why the devil don't you answer? Is this a joke or what? We've had about enough of it, I tell you.”

Mary MacLean had gripped her lover by the arm in agony of sudden panic.

”Oh, Tom!” she cried. ”Look at his eyes--look at his horrible eyes! The man is a maniac.”

The workman stirred suddenly into sinister life. His dark face broke into writhing lines of pa.s.sion, and his fierce eyes glowed like embers, while he shook one long arm in the air.

”Behold,” he cried, ”those who are mad to the children of this world are in very truth the Lord's anointed and the dwellers in the inner temple.

Lo, I am one who is prepared to testify even to the uttermost, for of a verity the day has now come when the humble will be exalted and the wicked will be cut off in their sins!”

”Mother! Mother!” cried the little boy, in terror.

”There, there! It's all right, Jack,” said the buxom woman, and then, in a burst of womanly wrath, ”What d'you want to make the child cry for?

You're a pretty man, you are!”

”Better he should cry now than in the outer darkness. Let him seek safety while there is yet time.”

The officer measured the gap with a practised eye. It was a good eight feet across, and the fellow could push him over before he could steady himself. It would be a desperate thing to attempt. He tried soothing words once more.

”See here, my lad, you've carried this joke too far. Why should you wish to injure us? Just s.h.i.+n up and get that wedge out, and we will agree to say no more about it.”

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