"Hush, hush; some one is coming."
It was a keeper to whom the terrible punishment had been entrusted. Katharine rose slowly to her feet and stood before him, her hands clasped, and the pale anguish of her face revealed by the fire light, which illuminated the darkness all around them.
"What are you women talking about? Go to your work, Katharine Allen."
She could not speak, but fell upon her knees, beseeching him with those wild eyes.
"What is all this about?" said the man, softening his voice.
"She wants you to let that poor man out—that's it," answered the woman, resting both elbows on her knees, and looking up from her seat on the wood. "She knows it aint human to treat any of God's creatures in this way, and wants to tell you so, only them groans has frightened the soul out of her body."
The man looked down at the young creature kneeling at his feet, and a shade of sympathy swept over his face.
"Get up," he said, almost kindly. "I have just come to see about him. This sort of thing don't gibe with my feelings more than it does with yours, but the fellow was obstinate as a mule—wanted a little of the proud blood sweated out of him, and I reckon he's got enough of it by this time."
"Oh, be quick, be quick, or he may die!" cried Katharine, gaining her voice. "How faint the moans are! Open the door! open the door!—hear how his poor hands beat against it!"
"Well, go away—this is no place for you. Run to the well, and have some water dipped up ready. They always make a dive for that first."