Cavendish returned the
fire, shooting blindly into the smoke, but the girl only lifted her
head, staring intently into the smother, until the cloud floated away
through the door. The attackers had again vanished, all semblance of
them, except those two motionless bodies.
She had not before been conscious of any feeling; all she had done had
been automatic, as though under compulsion; but now she felt strangely
sick, and faint. An unutterable horror seized her and her hands
gripped the edge of the bed to keep her erect. She could seem to see
nothing but the ghastly face of that dead man hanging over the stool,
and she closed her eyes. Yet this reaction was only momentary. She
had fired in defence; in a struggle for the preservation of life and
honour. Under spur of this thought she once more gained control.
But how still it was! Even the sound of voices had ceased; and out
through the open door there was no sign of movement. The light seemed
dimmer, also, as though the sun had sunk below the opposite cliffs, and
night was slowly descending upon the valley.
Pages:
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355