Page:Vance--The trey o hearts.djvu/122

98 Judith controlled herself and her voice marvellously. "You will see," she said evenly. "I have prepared a way to make you understand what opposition to me means. ..." She waved a hand toward the nearest point of rocks. "Take them along!" she commanded.

Her men without hesitation or further instructions marched Rose and Barcus down to the end of the spit and on into the water.

It was nearly knee-deep before Barcus was halted, forced to sit down, and swiftly made fast in that position, submerged to his chest. This accomplished, the men turned attention to Rose, lashing her in similar wise at Barcus's side.

Then quietly those well-trained servants turned their backs and marched off.

Judith, watching them, laughed her short, mirthless laugh.

"The tide will be high," she said, "precisely at sunset. You may time your lives by that. When the sun dips into the sea, then will your lives go down with it."

She turned on her heel and strode swiftly away.

For some time Barcus struggled vainly. As for Rose, she wasted no strength in struggling.

He noted that already the water had risen more than an inch.

Humbled even in his terror by that radiant calm