"Do you think he can get through that howling mob of savages? I'm afraid he will be killed; and if he isn't, the doctor can never get in."
"Oh, there's the back gate. I hope the doctor's not above taking it." I had hardly spoken when I was checked at seeing my messenger standing in the hall. Before I could exclaim at his sudden return, he had beckoned me out with a warning finger on his lips.
At his signal I left the room with an attempt to disguise my disturbance of mind under the pretense of idle restlessness.
"What's the matter?" I asked, as soon as I got the man away from the door.
"There's a gang over in the next yard," he said, "and I couldn't get through. I'm afraid they're getting ready to set fire to the house. I smelt kerosene when I climbed on the fence. One of 'em says something about 'smoking 'em out,' an' I guess they're fixing up some sort of fire-balls."
"Where are you going?" asked Miss Kendrick, coming to the door. "You are not meaning to venture out among those savages again?"
"I think it's time I told them to go home," I said. "They are making a good deal of noise out there."
"You must not do anything of the sort," she said, catching my arm. "I told them to go, and if they won't go for my telling, they won't go for yours."
I bent over her with more tremors than I had felt in the midst of the mob.
"I shouldn't go unless I thought it would help to protect you," I said.