“I am up,” she said, “but no one else. No one else knows of this. You have come without a gun?”
“I have a knife instead,” he said. His eye glittered strangely.
“Give me your knife,” said the girl. “I will give you food in exchange for it.”
The famished creature began to gibber now in the most horrible manner; he pointed to his breast and uttered a laugh.
“Laugh again, and I will call those who will soon put a stop to your wild and terrible purposes, Andy,” said the girl, “Here's food—fruit, jelly, bread. You shall have them all—all, when you give me that knife.”
The man looked at the food, and now his eyes softened. They became full not only of rapture, but also of laughter. He gave a low guttural sound, sank down on the ground, and held out both his hands imploringly for some of the nourishment.
“The knife,” said Nora.
He thrust his hands into his bosom and held the knife out to her. It was a huge clasp knife, and Nora noticed with a shudder that it had all the appearance of having been newly sharpened. The moment she got it she put it in her pocket, and then invited the man to feed. He sat now quite humbly. Nora helped him to pie. She had already taken the precaution to hide the knife which Mrs. Shaw had supplied her with. The man ate and ate, until his consuming hunger was satisfied. Nora now gave him a very little of the brandy mixed with water. He lay back at last, exhausted and also satisfied.
“It's wake I am, it's wake I am—it's wake I am entoirely,” said he. “Why are you so good to me, Miss Nora? It was to take the life of the Squire I was afther to-night.”
“I knew that,” said Nora, “and I thought I would prevent you. Why did you not meet me this evening down by the shore?”