Half way through the woods the thing Wilder looked for came to pass. Eyes and ears were keenly alert. He had realised that his approach would be observed. That seeing eyes, faithful to the service of the woman’s blinded charge, would be unfailing in their watch. The terror he had once witnessed in them had been sufficient to warn him that her life was comparable to that of a vigilant watchdog, everlastingly searching for the approach of the dark, avenging figure that hypnotized her with the horror of its return.
The diminutive figure of the Japanese woman came hurriedly to meet him from her hiding somewhere screened amidst the dull green foliage of these northern woods. She stood before him, her slanting black eves widely gazing, and her thin, lined face eagerly demanding in its expression of scarcely suppressed agitation.
Crysa began at once. She had no fear of this white-man. But she realised that his coming had to do with her safety and the safety of her charge. His promise had been her comfort, her most treasured memory.
“You give him the paper?” she said, as though no space of time had elapsed since their last meeting, and the memory of every word then spoken was as fresh in her mind as though their meeting had occurred only the day before. “You give him this thing? And now you come that I may know it is so? And Usak is satisfied? Oh, yes. You come to say that thing? There is no more fear? None? I sleep, I eat, I know peace. Usak will not come?”
Wilder gripped himself before this poor creature’s heart-breaking appeal. He knew he must dash her last hope, and hurl her again to that despair which had beset her so long. It was useless to attempt to soften the facts. His resolve was clear in his mind. He shook his head.
“Nothing will satisfy him,” he said sombrely, “but the life of your man. He’s on his way now, I guess. But I got away first. I came right along up to get you folks away to safety. I don’t reckon to know how you’re fixed for a quick get-away. But you both got to make it right now, or Usak’ll be along and kill you both up. Maybe I can get you right out of the country back to your own folk. That’s how I figger. But if I’m to do that you need to beat it down the river with me—now. I came because of my promise. See? I’m here with a white-man’s word to do the best I know. You’ve got to take me to Ukisama, and both of you need to make up your minds right away. Money don’t need to worry you. Only outfit for the journey along down to Placer. Well?”
While he was speaking the woman’s face was a study in emotions. With his first words the urgent hope fell from her in one tragic flash. There were no tears. But panic closed down upon her in a staggering contrast to her hope of the moment before. The dreadful fear she was enduring left her lips moving. She followed the man’s words, as though she was repeating them the more surely to impress them upon her staggered faculties. But a measure of comfort seemed to come to her as he propounded his purpose for their safety. And a desperate sort of calm helped her as he made his final demand.
“You come with me,” she cried at once. “I take you to Hela. You say all this thing. I, too, say much. Maybe he go. I not know. Come.”
And she turned, and led the way without waiting for any reply.