He had leaped upon her, as a wolf leaps. She was in his grasp, and the strength in her was as melting snow.
"Anabal! God hears me: I dare not lie to you, I who am blind——"
"Torcall Cameron, as God is my witness, I saw your face in his dead eyes."
The man groaned; then, as though weary, spoke once again:
"I have sworn. I have not lied. Fergus slipped and fell, I not touching him nor near him at the time. I tried to catch him as he fell, but the Mairg Water was in spate, and it was useless. He came out at the Kelpie's Pool. He was not quite dead, and I looked into his eyes ere the veils came on."
Still no word, only that dread silence.
"Anabal! Anabal! Let all this misery be at an end. Sorrow has aged us both. But I have loved you ever. I love you now. Woman, woman, you were mine, all of you, all of you, mine to the leaping body, to the beating heart, to the shaking soul—mine—mine—before ever he touched you! Mine you were before ever I put my sin upon you; mine you have been ever since, and ever sh——"
"Torcall!"
"I hear."
"Who brought you hither, this night of all nights?"