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He came forward from his place by the door and stopped near the two girls. The fisherman raised his own fist, and Tessibel moved a little aside. She regretted, now, that she'd loosened the little one's bonds or had done anything to relieve her suffering. She didn't care what they did to Waldstricker's girl. If they wanted to strike her, what affair was it of hers?
This put a different face on the matter. "Could ye come tomorrow?" she demanded finally. "Yes, at two, then. Tell your father, please." "All right," muttered Tess. Waldstricker's whip cut a cluster of wild flowers and nipped clean the stems of their upraised heads. "Oh!" cried Tess, sharply, hurt to the quick.
"I can't ever thank you all enough," she flung back hoarsely, tucking the whip into her coat pocket, "for giving me this chance at Waldstricker." Longman got up and opened the door and Tess stepped out into the storm, carrying Waldstricker's daughter. Deforrest Young was trying to calm his sister.
The interview with Frederick had been a terrible ordeal, and she was sick with disgust from his odious kisses. Waldstricker's untimely appearance and his stinging taunts hurt and frightened her. She knew he would do his worst and that Frederick wouldn't or couldn't help it. The desire to get Boy into her arms, to keep him from the men below urged her on.
Deforrest Young forced his foaming horse into Waldstricker's gateway and galloped up to the porch. It took him but one brief moment to fling himself to the ground, and up the steps into the house. Andy had told him Tess had gone to Ebenezer's with little Elsie. To know his darling was out in such a night nearly drove him mad. It hadn't taken him long to decide to go after her.
At her hesitation the little man scrambled to his feet. He'd heard men's voices from the room below but had paid no particular attention. Now, he knew the long-dreaded calamity'd happened. He looked pitifully up at the speaker. "They've come for me?" he gasped. "Yes, dear, and you must go. But remember all the time, God's hands're stronger'n Waldstricker's," repeated Tess.
"It's Waldstricker's brat," declared Jake, exultantly. "I were a snoopin' 'round Eb's place an' run on 'er down near the road by that there bunch of tamaracks. I says, 'What air the matter, Kid, an' she says, 'I want my ma. I says, 'Come along an' I'll git 'er fer ye, an' the kid come jest like a lamb goes to the slaughterhouse." And Jake threw back his head and roared.
"Drat ye, ye brute!" cried Moll, tottering back, "an' twice drat ye!" She swayed forward on her cane. "Ye can lick me till I die, an' 'twon't change yer own life any. It'll only add to the sufferin' ye got to go through yerself." Waldstricker's arm went up again, but Helen grasped it frantically. "Ebenezer, don't!... Don't strike her any more. Please!... Go home, Mother Moll.... Please go!
Then he'll turn yer heart inside out an' haul ye back again." She paused, while Waldstricker's face grew darker and darker. The frown on his brow roused Helen to action. "Let's go on, dear," she whispered. "Don't pay any attention to her foolish talk." "Not yet," returned Waldstricker, ominously. "Not yet!"
He knew his implacable hatred of the squatters and particularly of Tessibel. He recognized that revenge had prompted him. Pushing the protesting elder aside, he ejaculated: "You pious hypocrite! Get out of my way," and was gone. The bitter winter wind nipped at Young as he strode down the steps and battled his way to the stables. Waldstricker's words were pounding at his brain like a hammer.
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