Jack Harkaway and His Son's Escape from the Brigands of Greece Part 61

"Read, read," he said, with a horror-stricken look.

Harvey glanced down the letter, and his countenance fell as he pa.s.sed it on to Jefferson.

"What is to be done?"

"I don't know," replied Jefferson; "I am at a loss. This is too horrible."

"What do you say, d.i.c.k?"

Harvey hung his head.

"Speak, d.i.c.k. Tell me, old, friend, what I ought to do," said Harkaway, imploringly. "I am bewildered--dazed--at my wits' end. What ought I to do?"

"Pay the money."

Accordingly the money, all in gold, was placed in a bag in the spot which they had indicated in the first note addressed by the brigands to Jack Harkaway.

This done, they awaited the result.

It soon came.

Too soon for the latter's peace of mind.

As the family and their friends were seated in moody silence and in sorrow around the dinner-table, so strong was the sense of oppression upon everyone that they only conversed in whispers.

"The heat is really overpowering," said Mrs. Harkaway.

"Shall I open the window?"

"If you please."

He hastened to comply with her request, when at that very instant something shot past him into the room.

It fell with a clatter upon the table, and cannoned off a dish on to Jack Harkaway, striking him a rather sharp blow in the chest.

"What's that?"

"Hullo!"

"A stone."

"Yes, a stone with a paper wrapped round it."

"So it is."

"A letter, I should think," suggested d.i.c.k.

"If so," said Harkaway, smiling sadly, "it is evidently meant for me."

"You have a striking proof of that," said d.i.c.k.

Harkaway undid the paper and scanned it through.

His countenance fell as he read on.

His pale face grew pallid, and rising from his seat, he ran, or rather staggered, to the window.

"Gone!"

"What is the matter?" demanded d.i.c.k, jumping up.

"See after the man who threw this letter in," exclaimed Harkaway. "Come with me--come, come immediately!"

And with this somewhat wild exhortation, he tottered out of the room, followed by d.i.c.k.

Everybody arose from the table in confusion.

Dismay, alarm, was depicted in every face.

"What can it be?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mrs. Harkaway. "Oh, Mr. Jefferson, go and see, and bring me the news."

"I will. Calm yourself, my dear Mrs. Harkaway; it is very likely to be good news which thus agitates poor Jack."

Away he went.

"I fear it is the reverse," said Emily, shaking her head.

Jefferson overtook Harkaway and d.i.c.k Harvey in the gardens, where an active search was going forward after the man, or individual of either s.e.x, who could have thrown the stone with its strange letter.

"Let me see the letter, Jack."

The latter placed it in his hand, and then, to Jefferson's horror and dismay, he found it contained the following words--

"TO HATED HARKAWAY.

"I have had years and years of patience, and my turn has come at last.

As your eyes glance at these lines, your boy is vainly supplicating for mercy. Before you reach the signature at foot, your accursed brat will be dead--mark that--dead! No power on earth can save him. Had you sent the money demanded as his ransom more promptly, you could have saved him. May the knowledge of this wring your heart as you have wrung mine in bygone years.

"HUNSTON."

CHAPTER XXII.

A HOUSE OF MOURNING--HARVEY'S RESOLVE--A TIME OF TROUBLE.