“No,� he said. “If that villain traces Anne here, you’ll need firearms. Anyway, the pistol would be mighty little use to me; I’d be an easy mark—on horseback, for them sneaking along in the dark. But I count on getting safe to The Village. They aren’t after me, you know. And what’s a man’s life for but to take in his two hands and put where it is needed?� He unclasped her hands that clung to him. “If all goes well, I’ll be back—— Oh! as soon as I can come.�
He went out unarmed into the hostile night. The tense listeners heard his firm, light tread on the flagged walk, the restive mare’s whinny, and his soothing, “Whoa there! Gently, girl!� Then he galloped down the hill, whistling “Dixie.�
Hour after hour passed. Anne tumbled down on the bed, to rest a while, and Dick, too, fell asleep. Mrs. Osborne sat there alone, very still and heedful, with the firearms at her hand.
Once the collie sleeping on the porch gave a quick, short bark, yelping in a dream or at some little meaningless noise. Mrs. Osborne’s face brightened. “Mayo!� she breathed, bending to listen. But no horse hoofs rang on the road, no footsteps sounded on the walk; and gradually the light faded from her face, leaving it bleak and sharp.
At last the early-morning farm noises began to be heard. Roosters crowed, a restless calf bawled and was answered by its lowing mother, the collie whined and scratched at the door. The east lightened for dawn. The gray sky became saffron and brightened to orange. Catbirds and thrushes sang, wrens twittered and crows cawed. There was the sweet, melancholy sound of cooing doves. Then came the pause when day seems to “stand tiptoe.�
Mrs. Osborne went into the sitting room. She looked through the front window, down the road; quiet and untraveled, it lay there in the brightening morning light.
“If nothing had happened,� she said to herself; “if he were safe——�
She turned from the window, with her lips pressed tightly together.
Now sunrays were creeping through the eastern shutters, and the farm creatures were growing insistent in their calls. Mrs. Osborne wakened Anne and Dick, who were amazed and mortified to find that they had slept so long and left her to watch alone.
“Why, it’s day, broad day!� exclaimed Anne. “Hasn’t Cousin Mayo come back?�