XIX. The Dying of Elspeth Rich

Suddenly back behind there in the darkness a shriek split the night like a sudden flash of flame‚ÅÝ‚Äîa great ringing scream that cracked and swelled and stopped. With one wild effort the man hurled himself out the door and plunged through the darkness. Panting and cursing, he flashed his huge revolver‚ÅÝ‚Äî bang! bang! bang! it cracked into the night. The sweat poured from his forehead; the terror of the swamp was upon him. With a struggling and tearing in his throat, he tripped and fell fainting under the silent oaks.