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   then he spoke, in a voice which matched his look, and at the chill of it Deshay drew back.

"Claud half turned and pointed to the cluster of palms. 'Go over there,' said he, very quietly, 'and see if you cannot die a little more decently than you have lived.' Words fail to express the icy dignity of his tone. 'It is the only thing left for you,' he continued, and leaned slightly toward Deshay, looking intently into his face, and at something in the look Deshay drew back with a shiver. 'There is death in your eyes,' said Claud; 'I think that you are going to die this very day'—and then the bolt fell

"Deshay, terrified, panic-struck at some quality of the cold voice and the words and the chill light of the eyes, staggered and threw up one arm as if to ward a blow. There was no suspicion of a threat in the gesture—no intent—but Dixie, crouching at his master's side, read it differently. Before Deshay's arm began to descend the hound had [ 241 ]