“We’re old, Polly,” he muttered; “the heart’s taken out of us. We led ’em astray because we didn’t lead ’em right.”
“I’m not old.” Polly looked comically defiant. “And my heart’s where it belongs and on the job. It’s shame to us, Peter, if we don’t use every scrap that’s left of us to undo the failings of the past.”
“And that night!” Peter groaned, recalling the night of Maclin’s arrest. “That’s what comes of being false to yer trust. Terrible, terrible! Twombley standing over Maclin with his gun after finding him flashing lights to God knows who, and then those government men hauling things out of his bags––why, Polly, in the middle of some black nights I get to seeing the look on Maclin’s face when he was caught!”
“Now, brother, do be sensible and wipe the sweat off yer forehead. This room is stifling. Can’t you see, Peter, that at a time like that the Lord had to use what He had, and there was only us to use? Better Twombley’s gun than Maclin’s, and you know, full well, they found two ugly looking guns in Maclin’s bag all packed with papers and pictures of the mines and bits of our own rock––what showed iron. Peter, I ain’t a bloodthirsty woman and the Lord knows I don’t hunger for my fellow’s vitals, but I’m willing to give Maclin up to a righteous God. The Lord knows we couldn’t deal with the like of him.”
“But, Polly”––poor Peter’s humanity had received a terrible jog––“the look on Maclin’s face––when he was caught!”
“Well! he ought to have had a look!” Polly snapped. “Several of us gave him looks. I remember that the Point men looked just as if it was resurrection day. They stiffened up and I say, Peter Heathcote, their backs ain’t slumped yet––oh! if only we could keep them stiff! It was an awful big thing to happen to a little place like the Forest. It’s terrible suggestive!”
But Peter could not be diverted.
“They were fearful rough with him––he, a trapped creature, Polly! I always feel as if one oughtn’t to harry a trapped thing. That’s not God’s way. It was all my fault! What was I a magistrate for––and just standing by––staring?”
“Well, he should have held still––he put up fight. Brother, you make me indignant.”