“Good-bye—father—good-bye—for ever.”
He made a snatch at her hand; but she had gone, and was clinging to Bayle.
Hallam uttered a fierce oath, and then listened: stopped short with his head wrenched round to gaze at the door.
For at that moment the tramp of feet reached the entrance, and a voice rang out:
“Halt!”
There was the rattle of muskets on the path, and as, ghastly of face, and with starting eyes, Robert Hallam saw in imagination the interior of the prison, the grim convict dress, the chains, and the lash, the door was thrown open, and Captain Otway entered, followed by a sergeant and a file of the convict guard, a squad remaining outside, drawn up before the house.
Otway glanced round, his brow furrowed, and his lips tightened, as his eyes fell on Mrs Hallam and her child.
It was but a momentary emotion. Then the stern military precision asserted itself, and he said quickly:
“Robert Hallam, number 874, assigned servant, I arrest you for breaking the terms of your pass. Sergeant, remove this man.”
Two men stepped to Hallam’s side on the instant.