“You have, have you?”
“—And I am free to advise you, sir, to refrain for the future from discussing with your friends such very private affairs on the public road.”
To the unfortunate prisoner all in a moment came a clap of revelation.
“We were overheard?”
“Ah-ha! You give yourself away.”
“There was more said—and ’twas that evening the ‘First Inn’ was fired.”
Some conscious sign passed between the rogues at his words. Tuke sprang at them, actually gnashing his teeth.
“I guessed it, you foul-blooded dogs! and may God burn your hearts for that wanton ruin of a poor maid!”
They had seized him and forced him back struggling and helpless. The beast was awake in Fern. His eyes opened bloodshot, his lip was lifted; he snapped out his knife and held it like a butcher.
“You Jack-a-dandy!” he screamed in a woman’s voice—“for a word I’d rip you like a pig!”