Page:Milady at Arms (1937).pdf/71

 told her that in the letter of warfare he was right; yet her heart cried "Hurry!" and her heart guided her as usual.

"An Master Lawrence cares not for the danger he encounters, why should ye care, sir?" she asked impudently.

Fury shook Stockton's voice when he spoke. "Lieutenant Lawrence, ye are bent on defying my orders, sir?"

"Aye, Captain Stockton, until I find the child, little Mary Todd."

"Then I dub ye in revolt, sir, and must deal wi' ye accordingly!" So saying, Stockton drew out his pistol and fired point-blank.

At the flash, Sally shrieked; but the next instant she felt herself being hurried along toward the church door.

"Run ye, Sally!" gasped Jerry's breathless voice and grimly, bent only upon escape, she obeyed him.

A moment to unfasten old Dot, once that patient beast was reached, a second or so to mount, and she was off, followed by Jerry, who had miraculously found his horse in the darkness. The flare of lightning, now faint and far off, revealed to their backward glances the figure of Stockton in the open door of the church, shaking a malevolent fist after them.

For a while they galloped along in silence. The rain had stopped, as Sally had hoped, and now a