Page:Curwood--The Courage of Captain Plum.djvu/339

 wanted the children—but if I took them all would be lost. I followed them, watched them, loved them—and they loved me. I would wait—wait—until my vengeance would fall like the hand of God, and then I would free them, and tell them how beautiful their mother was. When Joseph Smith was killed and the split came the old folks followed Strang—and I—I too—"

He rested a moment, breathing heavily.

"I brought my Jean with me and buried her up there on the hill—the middle grave, Nat, the middle grave—Marion's mother."

Nathaniel pressed the liquor to the old man's lips again.

"My vengeance was at hand—I was almost ready—when Strang learned a part of the secret," he continued with an effort. "He found the old people were murderers. When Marion would not become his wife he told her what they had done. He showed her the evidence! He threatened them with death unless Marion be-