Part 32 (1/2)

”I heard,” was the smooth reply.

”I am sorry for it,” said Landless grimly, and stood with a sternly thoughtful countenance.

There was a silence in the tobacco house broken by Havisham.

”And now--for time pa.s.ses and the overseer may come and find us not at our tasks--tell me the day upon which we are to rise, and the place to which all are to resort.”

”Both are close at hand,” said Landless slowly. ”The day is--” he broke off and leaned forward, staring through the dusk.

”What is it?” cried Havisham.

”My eyes met other eyes. There, behind that great crack between the logs!”

The Muggletonian rushed to the door, flung it open, and vanished; the branded man followed. The remaining occupants of the tobacco house started to their feet, and Havisham picked from the floor a pole and broke from it a stout cudgel. G.o.dfrey Landless strode forward into the broad shaft of suns.h.i.+ne that entered through the opened door and met the eavesdropper face to face, as, with either arm in the rude grasp of the fanatics, she crossed the threshold.

The conspirators, recognizing the lady of the manor, were stricken dumb.

In the three minutes of dead silence which ensued they saw their plans defeated, their hopes ruined, their cause vanquished, their lives lost.

The graceful figure with white scorn in the beautiful face was death come upon them. The shadow fell heavy and cold upon their souls, the very air seemed to darken and grow chill around them The figure of the woman in their midst gathered up the suns.h.i.+ne, became ethereal, transplendent, a triumphant white and gold Spirit of Evil.

Landless was the first to speak. ”Unhand her!” he said in a suppressed voice.

The men obeyed, but the Muggletonian placed himself between his prisoner and the door. She saw the movement and said scornfully, ”You need not fear; I shall not run away.” Upon her bare, white arms, where they had been clasped too rudely, were fast darkening marks. She glanced from them to the scarred face of the Muggletonian. ”_They_ will wear out,”

she said.

”Madam,” said Landless hoa.r.s.ely, ”how long were you in that place?”

She flashed upon him a look that was like a blow. ”Liar! be silent!” she said, then turned to the row of faces that frowned upon her from out the shadow. ”To you others I address myself. Traitors, rebellious servants, base plotters! I hold your lives in my hand.”

”And your own?” said Trail.

”Cursed daughter of the mother of evil!” cried the Muggletonian, a baleful light burning in his eyes. ”Scarlet woman, whose vain apparel, whose uncovered hair and bared bosom, whose light songs and laughter have long been an offense and a stumbling-block to the righteous--thy cup of iniquity is full, thy life is forfeit, thy hour is come!” He drew a knife from his bosom and with an unearthly cry flourished it above his head, then rushed upon her, to be met by Landless, who hurled himself upon the would-be murderer with a force that sent them both staggering against the wall. A struggle ensued, which ended in Landless securing the knife. With it in his hand he sprang to the side of the girl, who stood unflinching, a pride that was superb in her still white face and steadfast eyes.

”Who touches her dies,” he said between his teeth.

Havisham came to his aid. ”Men, are you mad? You cannot murder a defenseless woman! Moreover such a deed would prove our utter ruin.”

”If her body were found, yes!” cried the hectic youth. ”But the water is near, and who is to know that the devil sent her hither?”

”It is her death or ours,” cried the branded man.

The Muggletonian tossed his arms into the air.

”The cause! the cause! Cursed be he that putteth his hand to the plough and finisheth not the furrow! Ride on! Ride on! though it were over the bodies of a thousand painted Jezebels such as this!”

”Time presses!” cried the branded man. ”Woodson may come!”

They closed in upon the three who stood at bay. In their dark faces were a pa.s.sion and an exaltation--they saw in the woman fallen into their hands, a sacrifice bound to the altar. Trail alone looked uneasy and held back, muttering between his teeth.

Landless stepped in front of Patricia and faced them with a still and deadly eye, and with the hand that held the knife drawn back against his breast. Knowing them, he saw no use in any appeal; also he saw that it was indeed her life or theirs. On the one hand, the downfall of all their hopes, the death or perpetual enslavement of many, and for himself surely the gibbet and the rope; on the other--