“You wonder-woman!” he exclaimed softly.
A moment they regarded each other. She saw the love in his eyes, and he saw rising in hers something that made his heart bound. But she turned quickly away.
“You must hurry, Bles; lives are at stake.” And in another moment he thundered out of the barn on the black mare.
Along the pike he flew and up the plantation roads.
Across broad fields and back again, over to the Barton pike and along the swamp.
At every cabin he whispered a word, and left behind him grey faces and whispering children.
His horse was reeking with sweat as he staggered again into the schoolyard; but already the people were gathering, with frightened, anxious, desperate faces.
- Women with bundles and children, men with guns, tottering old folks, wide-eyed boys and girls.
- Up from the swamp land came the children crying and moaning.
The sun was setting. The women and children hurried into the school building, closing the doors and windows.
A moment Alwyn stood without and looked back. The world was peaceful. He could hear the whistle of birds and the sobbing of the breeze in the shadowing oaks. The sky was flashing to dull and purplish blue, and over all lay the twilight hush as though God did not care.
He threw back his head and clenched his hands. His soul groaned within him.