“Pull, meeats!” cries one, the roughest of the gang, and apparently the ringleader, “pull like—hic—hic!”—his drunken tongue refuses the blasphemous word. “If ye lay me ’longside that girl wi’ the gooe—goeeldy hair, I’ll stan’ someat stiff at the ‘Kite’s Nest’ whens we get hic—’ome.”
“All right, Bob!” is the rejoinder, “we’ll do that. Ne’er a fear.”
The prospect of “someat stiff” at the Forest hostelry inspires them to increase their exertion, and their speed proportionately augmented, no longer leaves a doubt of their being able to come up with the pursued boat. Confident of it they commence jeering the ladies—“wenches” they call them—in speech profane, as repulsive.
For these, things look black. They are but a couple of boats’ length ahead, and near below is a sharp turn in the river’s channel; rounding which they will lose ground, and can scarcely fail to be overtaken. What then?
As Gwen Wynn asks herself the question, the anger late flashing in her eyes gives place to a look of keen anxiety. Her glances are sent to right, to left, and again over her shoulder, as they have been all day doing, but now with very different design. Then she was searching for a man, with no further thought than to feast her eyes on him; now she is looking for the same, in hopes he may save her from insult—it may be worse.
There is no man in sight—no human being on either side of the river! On the right a grim cliff rising sheer, with some goats clinging to its ledges. On the left a grassy slope with browsing sheep, their lambs astretch at their feet; but no shepherd, no one to whom she can call “Help!”
Distractedly she continues to tug at the oars; despairingly as the boats draw near the bend. Before rounding it she will be in the hands of those horrid men—embraced by their brawny, bear-like arms!
The thought re-strengthens her own, giving them the energy of desperation. So inspired, she makes a final effort to elude the ruffian pursuers, and succeeds in turning the point.
Soon as round it, her face brightens up, joy dances in her eyes, as with panting breath she exclaims:—
“We’re saved, Nelly! We’re saved! Thank Heaven for it!”