Page:Son of the wind.djvu/184

RV 170 quished the idea of Ferrier altogether. "He won't do," he thought, "he's too weak."

The weaknesses of strong men who know what they want and will pursue any means to get it, were always sharp, certain instruments in the hands of whoever cared to use them, but the weakness of this man, who reflected the will of the last person he had talked with might cut in none knew what direction. He had sold the girl's confidence for twenty dollars. He had fallen into an ecstasy of dread of the consequences. Yet even thus, and under her very eye he had not had the moral courage to resist that gold piece. Carron reflected, striding back through moon and shade, that a man did not need to have a very delicate honor to want not to deal with Ferrier. He did not plead one for himself; he only pleaded now the courage of his desires. He was ready for anything that would find him the much desired, fleet and elusive Son of the Wind. Had he met, there and then, the traveler with the cloven foot who stops men in forest ways and offers them the world for their name written in red, he would have been inclined to sign the document. But the devil within was the only one who had ever appeared to Carron, to offer him assistance, and this one was his demon of persistence.

He was up the next day at dawn to be sure of be-