'Let me attend to him,' asked Mehalah.
'You'd be afraid of him.'
'I should pity him,' said the girl. 'He and I are both wretched, both your victims, both prisoners, wearing your chains.'
'You have no chains round you, Glory.'
'Have I not? I have, invisible, may be, but firmer, colder, more given to rust into and rub the flesh than those carried by that poor captive. I have tried to break away, but I cannot. You draw me back.'
'I told you I could. I have threads to every finger, and I can move you as I will. I can bring you into my arms.'
'That—never,' said Mehalah gloomily and leisurely.
'You think not?'
'I am sure not. You may boast of your power over me. You have a power over me, but that power has its limits. I submit now, but only for my mother's sake. Were she not dependent wholly on me, were she dead, I would defy you and be free, free as the gull yonder.'
Elijah put his hand inside his door, drew out his gun, and in a moment the gull was seen to fall.