"
Mad though I believed her, I was growing pretty thoroughly
frightened, remembering the graveyard under the trees. "You forget
my friends," said I, speaking very simply, as to a child. "If he
means to kill them, I ought to carry them warning."
"He will not kill them till to-night," she answered, shaking her
head. "It is always at night-time, when they are at supper. There
is no hurry, little boy; but he will sar-tain-ly kill them, all the
same."
I turned my head, preparing to run, for I heard Captain Branscome's
voice in the verandah, calling my name.
"They are starting after the treasure. I must go," I stammered.
She drew close, and laid a hand on my arm. Again a dreadful odour
was wafted under my nostrils--an odour as of tuberoses, and I know
not what of corruption--and, as before in the graveyard, it turned me
both sick and giddy.
"They will not find it," she said, nodding with an air of childish
triumph. "Shall I tell you why? _I_ have hidden it!" Here she fell
back on her old litany. "He would kill me if he knew . . . I hid
it--oh, years ago! But come, and I will show you; and you shall take
a great deal--yes, as much as you can carry--if only you will go
away, and never be rash again.
Pages:
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358