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Mrs Ruthven was turning back from the shore, breathless from haste and vexation, as Lady Carse and Helsa came down. The boat, with several armed men in it, had pushed off when Mrs Ruthven appeared. They made no reply to her signs, but lay on their oars at a little distance from the beach till Lady Carse and her maid came down.
"Four-two-four. Oh, what a fright you gave me. What is your name?" "That is against regulations." "I know. What is it, all the same.... Mine is Helsa Kampf." "Mine is Johann Wolkcer." "Wolkcer? Is it Polish?" "God knows where we Germans had our origin. ... Who are your companions, Fraulein?" "An Irish-American. Jim Macniff, and a British revolutionist, Harry Skelton.
There where they lay together side by side among Alpine roses in full bloom there on the crag's edge, watching the Swiss soldiery below combing the flanks of Mount Terrible for the perpetrators of that hellish murder at the shrine, these two people could see the Via Mala which had been the Via Crucis the tragic Golgotha for that poor girl Helsa Kampf.
Helsa laughed, and looked us if she could have told where it was. In a moment, however, she was grave enough, hearing herself called by her mistress. "I shall say I came to learn about the lamp," said she; "and that is true, you know." "Why do not you speak English, both of you?" demanded Lady Carse from the door. "You both speak English. I will have no mysteries.
And she went over all the old arguments, while she sent Helsa to bring in Mr Ruthven, that he might add his pastoral authority to her claims.
We were to have warned the Germans that the two had crossed the wire and then our only chance was to string out across that neck of woods between the peak and the cliffs. That's the way McKay will travel, not on a path in full moonlight. Aw I'm sick what with Helsa doing that to me I can't get over it!"
Macniff started nervously and began to run along the path, upward: "Beat it, Harry," he called back over his shoulder; "it's the only way out o' this now." "God," whimpered Skelton, "if I ever get my hooks on Helsa!" His voice ended in a snivel but his features were white and ferocious as he started running to overtake Macniff.
I will not detain you; we have five minutes of your ten yet I will be across the threshold before your ten minutes are up. Helsa! Helsa, come with me." "What is to be done?" asked the President of Annie. "You know her best. What if I compel her to stay? Would there be danger?" "I think she would probably die to-night, as she says. If she could convince herself of her weakness, that would be best.
What is that she says?" he inquired of Helsa, who had a younger and quicker ear. "She says the widow is about lighting her lamp. Yes, my lady; but we are too far off to see it." "Is she wandering?" asked the President. "No, sir: quite sensible, I think. Did you speak, my lady?" "My love!" "To Annie, my lady? I will not forget." She spoke no more.
Yet Annie was the most cheerful person now on the island. When Helsa was fatigued and dispirited by her attendance on Lady Carse, and was sent home for a day's holiday, she always came back with alacrity, saying that after all, the Macdonalds' side of the island was the most dismal of the two.
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