Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/327

THE TESTIMONY OF A WITNESS at once, I did not dare leave you comparatively alone here with that creature at large. I found O'Brien on guard below, and set forth myself to explore the tunnel once more. Half way through I met Daniels. It does n't make any difference what happened between us down there, nor how he came to be there; but I told him about this woman, that you, as well as I, had seen her, and he wanted to ask you something. Will you answer him?"

She looked at the man, wetting her lips, her eyes opened wide in bewilderment.

"Yes," she said, "I will answer."

Daniels was trembling like a leaf. I could see his hands shake, and he spoke with difficulty.

"Wal, Miss," he said, forcing his words out, "I reckon yer don't think none too much o' me, an' I 'spect I hev done some pretty blame mean things, but they were n't a darn bit meaner than what's been done ter me. When I went off ter ther war I hed a cabin up on Lost Crick, whar I thought it was safe, an' I left a wife an' three kids thar awaitin' my comin' back. Las' night I got a chance ter ride thet way, an' I found some hell-hounds hed burnt ther cabin, an' either murdered ther woman an' ther kids, or else drove 'em inter ther hills. I could n't git no trace o' them high er low, an' I nat'rally laid it up agin your people. Now, Miss, maybe I'm tough, but I'm man enough ter care a heap fer my wife an' ther kids jist ther same, an' I started out ter find what hed become o' them. Thet's what fetched me yere, an' I come fightin' mad. I reckon yer know what we-uns are in ther [ 309 ]