He watched the sun sink. He watched the red splendor fade over the river; he saw the first stars appear. He told himself that Hicks would soon be gone—if the fire was not to be lighted he must act at once! He stole to the window. It was dusk now, yet he could distinguish the distant wooded boundaries of the great fields framed by the darkening sky. Then in the silence he heard the thud of hoofs.
CHAPTER XXXI. THE KEEL BOAT
“PRICE,” began Mahaffy. They were back in Raleigh in the room the judge called his office, and this was Mahaffy's first opportunity to ease his mind on the subject of the duel, as they had only just parted from Yancy and Cavendish, who had stopped at one of the stores to make certain purchases for the raft.
“Not a word, Solomon—it had to come. I am going to kill him. I shall feel better then.”
“What if he kills you?” demanded Mahaffy harshly. The judge shrugged his shoulders.
“That is as it may be.”
“Have you forgotten your grandson?” Mahaffy's voice was still harsh and rasping.
“I regard my meeting with Fentress as nothing less than a sacred duty to him.”
“We know no more than we did this morning,” said Mahaffy. “You are mixing up all sorts of side issues with what should be your real purpose.”