The Unknown Sea Part 26

'Is he so mad?'

'No, he shams.'

'Leave fooling, and speak straight in a matter of life and death.'

'Oh! more--more than life and death. For the love of G.o.d, make an end, and take a final answer. I will tell no more; nor would the most I know further you to Philip.'

The comment of a vigorous curse checked him there.

'Hear me out. If you need but to know how a venture went, I can tell you: well. If you have other need of him that does not brook delay, I can but offer to serve you to my best, for following and bringing him again; whatever be the risk, I owe that to him and you. Only this day I must have to myself. I must, though I pay for it with the rest of my life.'

That preposterous offer took away breath. Then an oath yelping high with derision above anger brought Christian to entreat for his mother's quiet.

'Let us in here, then,' said one, and reached to the latch behind him.

Christian struck up his arm. 'No!' he said, and barred the way.

Instantly, moved by a prompt suspicion, the four sprang out ready steel and swung one way, ringing him in. At that, Christian realised his desperate case. He blanched, and sweat started. 'For life and death!' he said hoa.r.s.ely. 'O my G.o.d, my G.o.d!'

Rhoda shot in between, and, voiceless from fear and speed, clung to Christian, presuming her weakness to turn offence.

'Cowards!' she panted, 'four against one, and he empty-handed. What--why?

Christian?'

'You would do well to counsel your madman to give way and let us pa.s.s, if he care greatly for the quiet of any there within.'

Christian yielded. He lifted the latch and thrust the door open, standing aside that they might pa.s.s him by; but two linked arm with him, walked him in, and held him a prisoner. He did not offer to resist. Rhoda pressed after him close; the last to enter closed and bolted the door.

Puzzled silence fell. Not a corner of the bare place could harbour suspicion. Some tools were ranged against the walls; twine and canvas and common oddments lay there, a small enough show of garden store, and of fuel a pile pitifully low. A stool overthrown told of Christian's last hasty rising; on a bench lay his cap, half filled with scarlet berries, and strung berries were spread beside. Four blank countenances were turned upon him, whose looks were sullen and guilty like a criminal's taken in the act. Rhoda, bewildered, owned to her sinking heart that here showed such vagary of his wits as pa.s.sed her reckoning.

'You were best away, Rhoda.'

'I will not go,' she said, 'except I be thrust out.'

None urged for that rough kindness now, having gone so far; her presence might even turn to account, for it must lie with the Alien to spare her distress.

The prisoner took up question.

'The League has charged you to be judges?'

'Yes.'

'To give sentence?'

'Yes.'

'To execute it?'

'Yes.'

Christian grew as white as a coward; he went on steadily nevertheless.

'You are charged to do murder.'

'To do justice.'

'Without any proof that Philip is dead.'

'Lack of proof that he is alive comes to the same as the case stands.'

No lie would now avail of Philip lost overboard. In the stress of clear thinking for his life he felt relief that he could not be so tempted to d.a.m.n his fair cause before Heaven.

'He will return,' he muttered, 'but too late, for me too late.'

'Christian, they dare not,' gasped Rhoda; 'no, you dare not, for Philip will return to confound you. Should he return--too late--then may G.o.d have no mercy on your souls.'

Christian said 'Amen' to that.

The spokesman turned to Rhoda.

'You speak positively: can you bear witness in his favour?'

'I know nothing--nothing.'

'Yet have you shown singular quickness of apprehension.'

She looked piteously at Christian, galled by remorse.

'Oh me! Must I say?'

'Why not? None here will blame you. I cannot.'

So Rhoda faltered out how she too had entertained a wicked suspicion.

'What evidence then routed it?'

'His.'

'His evidence?'

'His denial.'

Her sincerity was beyond question; her simplicity commanded respect; no ingenuity could have spoken better to his credit. Yet all was vain.

'Bare denial may not suffice for us, when furthermore without valid cause he has refused any clear statement to satisfy a reasonable demand, and quibbled and defied.'

'Give me a moment's grace,' pleaded Christian, 'to make sure if I can go no further.'

He might take his time; but little he needed to gain conviction for despair; for he saw how inevitably answer would beget question point by point, till, again at bay, having traversed ground bristling with hostile indications, he must stand at yet worse disadvantage.