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twice wounded me on the scalp； and it is to the consequent loss of
blood that I am tempted to attribute the sudden clearness of my
mind。
I caught him by the wrist。
〃Northmour；〃 I remember saying； 〃you can kill me afterwards。 Let
us first attend to Clara。〃
He was at that moment uppermost。 Scarcely had the words passed my
lips； when he had leaped to his feet and ran toward the tent； and
the next moment； he was straining Clara to his heart and covering
her unconscious hands and face with his caresses。
〃Shame！〃 I cried。 〃Shame to you； Northmour！〃
And； giddy though I still was； I struck him repeatedly upon the
head and shoulders。
He relinquished his grasp； and faced me in the broken moonlight。
〃I had you under； and I let you go；〃 said he； 〃and now you strike
me！ Coward！〃
〃You are the coward；〃 I retorted。 〃Did she wish your kisses while
she was still sensible of what you wanted？ Not she！ And now she
may be dying； and you waste this precious time； and abuse her
helplessness。 Stand aside； and let me help her。〃
He confronted me for a moment； white and menacing； then suddenly he
stepped aside。
〃Help her then；〃 said he。
I threw myself on my knees beside her； and loosened； as well as I
was able； her dress and corset； but while I was thus engaged； a
grasp descended on my shoulder。
〃Keep your hands off her；〃 said Northmour； fiercely。 〃Do you think
I have no blood in my veins？〃
〃Northmour；〃 I cried； 〃if you will neither help her yourself； nor
let me do so； do you know that I shall have to kill you？〃
〃That is better！〃 he cried。 〃Let her die also； where's the harm？
Step aside from that girl！ and stand up to fight。〃
〃You will observe；〃 said I； half rising； 〃that I have not kissed
her yet。〃
〃I dare you to；〃 he cried。
I do not know what possessed me； it was one of the things I am most
ashamed of in my life； though； as my wife used to say； I knew that
my kisses would be always welcome were she dead or living； down I
fell again upon my knees； parted the hair from her forehead； and；
with the dearest respect； laid my lips for a moment on that cold
brow。 It was such a caress as a father might have given； it was
such a one as was not unbecoming from a man soon to die to a woman
already dead。
〃And now；〃 said I； 〃I am at your service； Mr。 Northmour。〃
But I saw； to my surprise； that he had turned his back upon me。
〃Do you hear？〃 I asked。
〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃I do。 If you wish to fight； I am ready。 If not；
go on and save Clara。 All is one to me。〃
I did not wait to be twice bidden； but； stooping again over Clara；
continued my efforts to revive her。 She still lay white and
lifeless； I began to fear that her sweet spirit had indeed fled
beyond recall； and horror and a sense of utter desolation seized
upon my heart。 I called her by name with the most endearing
inflections； I chafed and beat her hands； now I laid her head low；
now supported it against my knee； but all seemed to be in vain； and
the lids still lay heavy on her eyes。
〃Northmour；〃 I said； 〃there is my hat。 For God's sake bring some
water from the spring。〃
Almost in a moment he was by my side with the water。
〃I have brought it in my own；〃 he said。 〃You do not grudge me the
privilege？〃
〃Northmour；〃 I was beginning to say； as I laved her head and
breast； but he interrupted me savagely。
〃Oh； you hush up！〃 he said。 〃The best thing you can do is to say
nothing。〃
I had certainly no desire to talk； my mind being swallowed up in
concern for my dear love and her condition； so I continued in
silence to do my best toward her recovery； and； when the hat was
empty； returned it to him； with one word〃More。〃 He had； perhaps；
gone several times upon this errand； when Clara reopened her eyes。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃since she is better； you can spare me； can you
not？ I wish you a good night； Mr。 Cassilis。〃
And with that he was gone among the thicket。 I made a fire； for I
had now no fear of the Italians； who had even spared all the little
possessions left in my encampment； and； broken as she was by the
excitement and the hideous catastrophe of the evening； I managed；
in one way or anotherby persuasion； encouragement； warmth； and
such simple remedies as I could lay my hand onto bring her back
to some composure of mind and strength of body。
Day had already come； when a sharp 〃Hist！〃 sounded from the
thicket。 I started from the ground； but the voice of Northmour was
heard adding； in the most tranquil tones： 〃Come here； Cassilis； and
alone； I want to show you something。〃
I consulted Clara with my eyes； and； receiving her tacit
permission； left her alone； and clambered out of the den。 At some
distance off I saw Northmour leaning against an elder； and； as soon
as he perceived me； he began walking seaward。 I had almost
overtaken him as he reached the outskirts of the wood。
〃Look；〃 said he； pausing。
A couple of steps more brought me out of the foliage。 The light of
the morning lay cold and clear over that well…known scene。 The
pavilion was but a blackened wreck； the roof had fallen in； one of
the gables had fallen out； and； far and near； the face of the links
was cicatrized with little patches of burned furze。 Thick smoke
still went straight upward in the windless air of the morning； and
a great pile of ardent cinders filled the bare walls of the house；
like coals in an open grate。 Close by the islet a schooner yacht
lay to； and a well…manned boat was pulling vigorously for the
shore。
〃The 'Red Earl'！〃 I cried。 〃The 'Red Earl' twelve hours too late！〃
〃Feel in your pocket； Frank。 Are you armed？〃 asked Northmour。
I obeyed him； and I think I must have become deadly pale。 My
revolver had been taken from me。
〃You see； I have you in my power；〃 he continued。 〃I disarmed you
last night while you were nursing Clara； but this morninghere
take your pistol。 No thanks！〃 he cried； holding up his hand。 〃I
do not like them； that is the only way you can annoy me now。〃
He began to walk forward across the links to meet the boat； and I
followed a step or two behind。 In front of the pavilion I paused
to see where Mr。 Huddlestone had fallen； but there was no sign of
him； nor so much as a trace of blood。
〃Graden Floe；〃 said Northmour。
He continued to advance till we had come to the head of the beach。
〃No farther； please；〃 said he。 〃Would you like to take her to
Graden House？〃
〃Thank you；〃 replied I； 〃I shall try to get her to the minister at
Graden Wester。〃
The prow of the boat here grated on the beach； and a sailor jumped
ashore with a line in his hand。
〃Wait a minute； lads！〃 cried Northmour； and then lower and to my
private ear； 〃You had better say nothing of all this to her；〃 he
added。
〃On the contrary！〃 I broke out； 〃she shall know everything that I
can tell。〃
〃You do not