Page:Rowland--In the shadow.djvu/103

 could have conquered him, Comte Dessalines. He appears thoroughly subdued, but eh—eh—eh," the voice grew thin, "I confess to a nervousness. I am afraid to have Miss Moultrie venture so close to him. …" He laid his hand upon Virginia's bridle-rein and drew her horse's head to one side.

"Please do not do that!" said Virginia a trifle sharply. She was vexed, disappointed, chagrined. "Count Dessalines can control his horse, I am quite sure."

"Your fears are quite without foundation, Dr. Leyden," said Dessalines. His voice was louder—contained a peremptory note. "You will permit me to observe that if there was the slightest danger to Miss Moultrie or yourself I would hardly remain here to discuss it. In fact, Miss Moultrie," he continued, and the rough note in his voice smoothed with the soft undulation of a wave motion as it attains deep water, "I am so confident of my control of this brute that I shall even venture to ask your permission to join you. If Dr. Leyden is nervous perhaps he would be more comfortable to ride a trifle in advance." He turned to Leyden with a bland, assured smile.

And then there came a surprise. Virginia's horse, restive, nervous, perhaps, at the presence of its forbidding neighbors, had been tossing and backing and side-stepping eager to be away; Virginia, without being aware of it, had gradually edged close to Dessalines. It was at this point that Leyden laid aside his mask. Reining back sharply he passed behind Virginia and thrust his horse directly between her and Dessalines, slightly crowding the Haytian into the ditch. 93