Page:The little blue devil (IA littlebluedevil00mackiala).pdf/283

“I shall not attempt to explain—I shall ask for protection.”

As she spoke, a horse and cart came in sight, approaching slowly and seen indistinctly through the dim light. A man walked at the horse’s head, some labourer or small farmer evidently. Pamela, with no hesitation, cried, “Stop!” Then she drew her arm away from Power’s grasp, guessing instinctively that he would not risk an actual struggle, sprang to the ground and explained her wishes.

“Do you live about here?” she asked. “Is it near? In any case, I want you to give me shelter for the night. I—we have been driving, as you see, but cannot get back to-night. If you will give me a lodging, my uncle will send for me in the morning. Probably you know my uncle, Mr. Learmonth.”

“I know who you mean, but as for lodging you, I dunno as———”

“Of course, I should prefer it if you could send me over there now, since I cannot go on in our own trap. Is that possible?”

Quite impossible, she was informed; there was no horse available. “What’s the matter with yours?”

“The gentleman will explain that to you. I don’t know what he means to do, but I must ask you either to take me in, or take me to any place in the neighbourhood that could give me a night’s lodging; I will pay you well.”

The puzzled farmer peered at her suspiciously. He was not at all anxious for a lodger thrust on him in this unexplained way, but she said she would pay well, and whatever she was driving at it was no business of his, so long as it meant something in his pocket. More than all, the decision in her voice decided him.

“It’s about half a mile to my place,” he said. “Will—he—drive you there?”

“No. I will walk. I can keep up with you quite easily.”

“And him———?”