With bated breath she tiptoed her way to the open doorway and peered forth. No one was in sight on the road, nor at the water's edge near the mill. All was as silent as a tomb, save for the distant rushing of the water over the rocks.
Waiting no longer, Debt left the mill and started for the road. She was still terribly frightened and ran on as if some great demon was after her trying to clutch her shoulder. In her agitation she did not notice a tree root growing in her pathway, and catching her foot in this, she pitched headlong on the stones and grass.
It was a cruel fall, and as she fell she could not keep back a cry of alarm, followed by one of pain, for her elbow was hurt not a little.
At the cry there was a crashing in the bushes overlooking the river at a point above the mill, and a moment later Corrigan appeared. He had gone out on a point of land to see if he could catch sight anywhere of Andy Mosey.
"What! did you get away?" he roared.
"Let me go!" screamed Deb. "Oh, my elbow! Let me go!"
"Let you go nothing!" he answered, and caught hold of her once more. "Come back with me! Come back this minute!"
"No, no!" she moaned. "I--I don't want to go back!"
"But you shall go back," he answered. And despite her struggles he lifted her into his arms once more and returned with her to the mill.
CHAPTER XX.