She did not answer, but sobbed and wept as if her heart was breaking.
“What is your answer?” and he smiled.
“Never!” she sobbed; “never!”
“Very well—very well.”
He arose and walked toward the door and looked out.
“By the sun I should judge the time to be ten o’clock. Now, Miss Jeffries, you will stay here twelve times twelve hours without food or water unless you accede to my desire. I do not wish to humiliate you in any manner, and will say there is a preacher about forty miles east. If you desire to unite your fortunes with mine, say the word and before night we will be at his house. Otherwise think of the terrors and anguish of slow starvation. I will give you an hour to decide. Reflect carefully, Miss Jeffries!”
He walked quietly out, leaving her a prey to the most harrowing thoughts. She had been tenderly reared and had never known the slightest grief, and this blow, dire as it was, humbled her and caused great anguish. She well knew his quiet ferocity and unrelenting disposition; she had just now seen his character in different phases; and knowing he would accomplish his purpose if it was possible, she trembled at the thought of the future.
In addition to these keen pangs was one nearly as piercing—she had no idea in what place she was. In the settlement the robber had lived in Hans Winkler’s cabin; she had often been there and knew this was not it. She was probably in some remote and obscure place, far from any path, alone with this dangerous and passionate man. She did not dream that a dozen yards from the cabin, seven or eight men, abandoned and profligate, ready to sanction and further any act of Downing’s, isolated from any thing pure or honest, were laughing and coarsely joking—even about her.
It was fortunate she did not, else she might have been unable to bear the thought, and would have swooned with fear.
She was in a critical and harrowing position, without means of escape, as she had heard him place a heavy log against the door as he went out. The door opened outward purposely in order to confine any prisoner within. Escape by the door was impossible.