Lemme--"
"Shut up, Maude!" growled Bill, glancing uneasily about the cave. "I'll
take her up in the cabin fer a couple of minutes. There ain't no
danger."
Davy protested, but Bill carried his point, simply because he was sober
and knew his power over the half-stupefied pair. Davy let them out
through the trap, promising to wait below until they were ready to
return.
"Are you going away?" whispered Rosalie, as they passed out into the
cold, black night.
"Sh! Don't talk, damn you!" he hissed.
"Let me go too. I know the way home and you need have no fear of me. I
like you, but I hate the others. Please, please! For God's sake, let me
go! They can't catch me if I have a little start."
"I'd like to, but I--I dassent. Sam would hunt me down and kill me--he
would sure. I am goin' myself--I can't stand it no longer."
"Have pity! Don't leave me alone with them. Oh, God, if you--"
Moaning piteously, she pleaded with him; but he was obdurate, chiefly
through fear of the consequences. In his heart he might have been
willing to give her the chance, but his head saw the danger to itself
and it was firm.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," he whispered in the end. "I'll take you
back there and then I'll go and tell your friends where you are and how
to help you. Honest! Honest, I will. I know it's as broad as it is
long, but I'd rather do it that way.
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