Leading my horse in among the trees, I tethered him securely and began
to approach the barn very cautiously and with every nerve and sinew
strung to instant action, my heavy riding-whip grasped in ready hand.
The knocking had ceased and, creeping nearer, I found the doors open
and, from the pitchy gloom of the interior, heard a hoarse gasping
that spoke of vicious effort.
"Be damned t' ye, Dick!" panted a hoarse voice. "'Eave,
man--'eave--her's a-laying across the trap--push, damn ye--"
"Aye, Tom--but her's got a knife!" panted a second voice. "Don't 'e
forget 'er's got a knife!"
"An' what--good'll her knife be--once we get--our 'ands on 'er--'eave,
I tell ye--both together--now!"
"Bide a bit, Tom--let's 'ave a light--"
"Light be damned--'eave, man!"
Fumbling my way to the wall, I began to creep towards the creaking
ladder where these panting, wrestling, evil things strove so
desperately. Once or twice came a swift beam of light, vivid in the
pervading blackness, as the trap door was forced up an inch or so;
brief, sudden gleams, that showed me the forms of two men crouched
upon the ladder, their shoulders bowed in passionate effort; and I
waited until, loud-panting with their desperate exertions, they began
to force up the trap again.
"Now, Dick--now!" gasped a voice; and then as they strove again, I
leapt and smote with all my strength. A squeal of pain and terror, the
sudden slam of the trap closing out all light, the impact of a heavy
body upon the rotting hay that littered the floor, and a feeble,
whining voice.
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