Page:The North Star (1904).djvu/141

Rh, and his eyeballs burned painfully from the strain of staring so steadily at the thrall. Kark’s mood grew more savage. Weary in every joint, his eyes seemed distended with wolfish, unblinking gloating, on the earl’s pale face. The stillness lay like lead upon their hearts. The last inch of candle slowly melted—spluttered—flared up brilliantly—then died down in darkness. In the horror of the black pall that fell with the fading of the dim light, Earl Haakon’s over-wrought nerves gave way. He screamed aloud, shrilly, piercingly. He fell to the ground in a strong convulsion, and when the paroxysm passed he grovelled upon his hands and knees. His face was disfigured with muscular spasms, and he plunged forward upon his head. As he arose, Kark’s blazing, murderous eyes met his gaze, even as Kark’s sharp knife was driven up to the hilt into the earl’s strong-muscled throat.