I saw Sandyconferring with DIngraville and
Carreras, looking once again themurderous scallywag.
If he getshold of Haraldsen there may be some ugly
work. There was a man on its roof pouring somethingout of a bucket. From where I
stood I could see the smile on his face, repeated inthose of his two companions. As
for Lombard and me, they mustsilence us. Round theseaward cliff north of the harbour
came the bows of a ship. Already the rim of the southern downs was outlinedsharply
against it. He would be safe in the back parts for the timebeing, unless he fell in
with a stray picket.
The memory of him was like a blow in the face. The
ground was white like winter and a windas icy as the hail blew out of the east. This
showsturning out pretty badly, Dick.
I found himsitting up on the turf, with his huge
fists stuck in his eyes likea sleepy child.
Sendhim forward, and Ill let him indoors. An older
man spoke and was answered with a frenzied shouting. The terrace became suddenly
populous,and the new-comers were unchallenged.
But if he once got in he would notget out again,
and Anna would be left deserted.
She saw Peter John, and she seemed to use him to
point her appeal.
I must godown and arrange about food and
drink.
His last glance back showed the Tjaldar rounding
thecliffs north of the harbour. Here were we up to our necks in arow of his
devising, and no word of him! The sight was clean beyond my comprehension, and I
could only stareand gasp. Before he reached the Bird Marsh the weather had changed
with avengeance.
Peter John lifted up hisvoice and called her, but
there was no answer.
Ill go back and report that you wont
treat.
The sole way of spinning out the affair was to keep
Haraldsen awayfrom their hands. The garden, the terrace, the hillside looked deep in
snow.
Ifound a better stance in the corner of my
chimney-stack and pickedup one of the rifles.
He stopped and sniffed,and then said a strange
thing.
Presently he was out of my mind as well, for all my
attention wasfixed on DIngraville. I had nodoubt about who they were, for I
remembered Sandys descriptions. Lombard tried the fishing-lochsin case there had
been a mishap there.
The terrace became suddenly populous,and the
new-comers were unchallenged. The garden, the terrace, the hillside looked deep in
snow. I descended from my perch andmade a tour of the House.
The garden, the terrace, the hillside looked deep
in snow. This man and I will beinside the hall out of the wind. Our liveswere still
on a razors edge, and it was high time for a plan ofcampaign. Back to your sties,
you swine, orI shoot.
Atleast you have deceived me very prettily, and I
am not easilydeceived.