"Mercy! What's that?" cried the terrified Mrs. Fatima.
"It's Blue Beard. He's coming back," whereupon Virgie immediately left Mrs. Fatima to face her fate alone.
Having spent a night and a day behind the tree, Blue Beard now rushed upon the castle and roared for his wife.
"Greeting, my lord," said the trembling Mrs. Fatima with a low curtsey "I hope you have enjoyed your journey."
"'Ooman," demanded Blue Beard severely. "What make you look so pale?"
"I know not, sweet sir. Am I, then, so pale?"
"You is! What you be'n up to sence I be'n away? Ha! What I tole you? Look at de blood on dat key! False 'ooman, you done deceib' me. Down on yo' marrow bones an' prepyar to die!"
"Spare me, my lord. Spare me! I am so—"
It was just about this time that old Uncle Billy, with a bridle in one hand and a carriage whip in the other came slowly upon the scene. At the sight of Sally Ann apparently about to assault his mistress the bridle dropped from his hand and with a tight clutch on the carriage whip he covered the intervening space at an amazing speed.
"Hi, dar! You li'l woolly haided imp! You tech Miss Hallie wid dat ar stick an' I bus' you wide open!"