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The first one seemed in direct proximity to the hut; the last ones came faintly from the shore of the lake. When she saw the gun, Ann whitened to the ears, and the threat in Everett's eyes caused Lem to gurgle in his throat, as if he would speak but could not. "I told you," said Everett, with his lips close to Fledra's ear, "that I would use any means to get you.... Stand aside there you two!"
"It don't make no matter to me what you'd ruther have. Ye go where yer sent, and that's all." Only Fledra's sobs broke the silence of the next five minutes. She dared not ask Lon Cronk any questions. Presently, without warning, the man turned upon her. "He's a comin' here tonight, mebbe." "Ye mean oh, Pappy Lon! Let me go to Lem! I'll go, and I won't say no word!... I'll go now!"
Fledra's voice reached the dreaming man, bending over his desk, and he bounded to answer her call. He found her supporting her brother, white and shivering, with eyes strained by fright. "I told him," gasped Fledra looking up; "but I didn't mean to." "Told him what?" "Pappy Lon," muttered Floyd, "comin' for Flea!" Horace caught the words in dismay.
She shuddered and drew closer to Miss Shellington. The squatter walked toward the door, and once more looked back, an evil expression crossing his face and settling in deep lines about his mouth. "Ye remember what I told ye, Flea, the last time I seed ye! I meant what I said then, and I say it over again!" The emphasis upon the words struck terror to Fledra's sensibilities.
A fear, almost a respect, for this girl, with her solemn gray eyes and unbending manner, dressed like the people he hated, took root within him. Fledra's next address to Lon ignored Lem's growling threat. "I didn't come to fight with you, Pappy Lon. But you've got to let me go back and write a letter. I won't tell anybody that I'm goin' from home. Mr.
Lem paused in his work, and then added in a stammering undertone, "But I love the huzzy!" The other bent far forward to catch the scowman's words, delighting in the mental picture of Fledra's lithe body writhing under the lash. The proud spirit of the girl would break under the physical pain! Fledra was still lying on the bed when Lon returned to the hut. "Git up and git supper!"
She told him that the stranger had gone; but that, as she had received no communication, she did not know the next steps that would be taken. It was nearly nine o'clock when Ann tapped softly upon Fledra's door. There had been no sign of life from the blue room that morning; for Miss Shellington had given orders that Fledra be allowed to sleep if she so wished.
If it troubled Ann to have Everett take part in their going back to the squatter country, how much worse she would feel if she knew what he really had done! Horace's appeal to shield Ann from overmuch burden strengthened Fledra's courage. "Can you keep us?" she asked, after a moment's thought. "I am going to try."
At last he did lift his head, and Fledra's solemn gray eyes, fixed gravely upon him, made the squatter ill at ease. "What ye lookin' at?" he growled. "Keep your eyes to hum, and quit a staring at me!" Fledra shrank back. "And I hate ye in them glad rags!" Lon thundered out. "Jerk 'em off, and put on some of them togs of Granny Cronk's! Yer a squatter, and ye'd better dress and talk like one!
Here be the key to the padlock." Fledra's heart rose a little with hope. He had not said that she had to go with Lem that day. After she had been rowed to the shore, she went slowly to the shanty, with a prayer upon her lips. She had no thought that Horace would try to save her, or that he would be able to keep her from Lem and Lon.
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