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I knew the probability was that I should be followed, but I did not know where to go, when I seemed to hear voices all around me uttering the words "Drearwater Pond!" With that I started running with all my might, knowing not where, yet dimly remembering that I had gone the road before. Then all memory and consciousness ceased.
Temple and I did not like the look on his face, and we followed him. I traced his footsteps along the high-road for a long while, and then we lost sight of them. We knew not where to go, when Mr. Temple thought he heard voices away in the distance. We went in the direction of the sound, and came to Drearwater Pond. "'Drearwater Pond? That terrible place to which we rode the other day?
"Onward!" said a distant voice. The temple vanished, and with it all my realization of life, save a vague fancy that I was moving somewhere, I knew not where. I stood by a well-remembered spot. I was by the side of Drearwater Pond. Around me was a stretch of common land, on which grew heather and furze.
I did not know. Possibly I was a murderer in act, if not in thought. I could not bear to think of it. Who can bear to think of having taken away a fellow-creature's life? And he might be lying in Drearwater Pond even then! Then there was the terrible spell that this man had cast upon me. I felt it clinging to every fibre of my being. I was not living a true life; I was living a dual life.
I wish I could think otherwise; but oh, I am afraid my friend, my only friend, lies murdered at the bottom of Drearwater Pond, and murdered by Mr. Blake. "'It cannot be! cried Miss Forrest. 'Mr. Blake could never, never do so. There is some mistake. "He took something from his pocket which was wrapped in a handkerchief.
He evidently had a message for me, for, making a sign for me to stop, he quickly came to my side. "Yer nag is saddled, sur," he said. I caught his meaning instantly. "Which way did they go, and how long have they been gone?" I asked. "They're gone to Drearwater Pond, yer honour. Started 'bout half-an-hour ago." "Any message for me?"
Still by Drearwater Pond. No phantoms, no shadow, nothing unreal, save the memory of that which I have but dimly described. That was but as a terrible nightmare an awful dream. Where was Kaffar? I could not tell. Certainly he was not near; but two other forms stood by me, one bearing a lantern. "Is it you, Justin?" said a voice. "It is I, Tom," I said, looking vacantly around.
He came back just after they'd gone, and went ridin' efter 'em like greased lightnin'." For a minute I was stunned. "I thought I'd better tell 'ee, yer honour, and then you'd know 'ow to act." I thanked Simon heartily; then, turning my horse's head towards Drearwater Pond, I galloped away. I had not gone far before I began to question the wisdom of what I was doing.
"What, after all," was the thought that maddened me, "if he should be lying at the bottom of Drearwater Pond?" There were only twenty-four days now. Three weeks and three days, and I knew not what to do. If I failed, my love would marry the man who was worse than a fiend, while I, for whom she was to suffer this torture, was unable to help her.
He was a beautiful high-blooded creature, and seemed to delight in making the snow crystals fly around him, as he scampered over the frozen ground. I did not know the district at all, but I had been told in what direction Drearwater Pond lay, so I did not doubt that I should easily find them.
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