And Toby departed, having suddenly conceived an idea of his own for hiding Penn in the barn until the danger was over.
He had been absent from the room but a moment, however, when those remaining in it heard a wild outcry, and presently the old negro reappeared, inspired with superstitious terror, his eyes starting from their sockets, his tongue paralyzed.
"What's the matter, Toby?" cried Virginia, perceiving that something really alarming had happened.
The negro tried to speak, but his throat only gurgled incoherently, while the whites of his eyes kept rolling up like saucers.
"Penn—has anything happened to Penn?" said Mr. Villars.
"O, debil, debil, Lord bress us!" gibbered Toby.
"Dead?" cried Virginia.
"Gone! gone, missis!"
Struck with consternation, but refusing to believe the words of the bewildered black, Virginia flew to the sick man's chamber.
Then she understood the full meaning of Toby's words. Penn was not in his bed, nor in the room, nor anywhere in the house. He had disappeared suddenly, strangely, totally.