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Panting, and with his throat dry with excitement as much as with
exertion, he toiled on, feeling as if every few paces had brought him
nearly to a haven of refuge, but only on raising his eyes to see the
house apparently as far off as ever, and to hear the voices of the
convicts close at hand, the gully acting as a kind of tube to convey the
sound. He paused for a moment to get a better hold of his burden, and
Eaton uttered a low groan, but he managed to get him in an easier
position, and started off once more, toiling on till the gully opened on
his left, and he saw O'Hara rise from behind some bushes, where he had
been creeping, and begin to run. Then his blood seemed to turn cold,
his heart to stop beating, for quicker than it can be told, there was a
shout, a dead silence, and then the sharp report of a musket, as O'Hara
went down, and rolled out of his sight as well.
Bayle ground his teeth, and a chill of despair came over him as he
realised that the Irishman had been making for the town to give the
alarm and bring help, while now the news might not reach Sydney till the
hour when the draft and their guard should return.
"Those poor fellows!" moaned Eaton, piteously, as Bayle toiled on with
him, seeing now that Hallam and Crellock were outside the verandah,
looking curiously towards him, but not taking a step to his aid.
"I can't ask their help if they do not offer it," muttered Bayle, as he
staggered on, growing weaker with his exertion, and finally stopping for
a moment or two so as to get his breath.
Then came the confused murmur of voices, when, looking back, he saw that
he was pursued; and as he pressed forward again the horrible thought
flashed through his brain that he was leading the savage band of utterly
reckless men right to the house where two tender women might even then
be trembling witnesses of what was going on. The agony he suffered at
this thought was so great that he stopped short, his brain swimming;
and, in spite of the fact that the convicts were close behind, he would
have staggered off to the left, had not a white figure suddenly appeared
on the side farthest from where Hallam and Crellock had backed close to
the window, and ran swiftly to meet him.
It was like some episode in a dream to Bayle, as that white figure flew
to his side.
"Quick, Mr Bayle, quick!" and, catching at Eaton in the belief that she
was helping to bear him, Julia pressed towards the house.
"Julie! are you mad?" roared Hallam, as soon as she was seen; and
Crellock started out after her.
"Quick! help! help!" she cried in a sharp imperious manner; and, as is
so often the case where one quick order is given, those who would not,
if they had time to think, stir a finger in a cause, feel themselves
moved by some irresistible influence, and obey. So Crellock seized
Eaton, and helped bear him into the dining-room, Hallam banging to the
window and fastening it as Eaton was thrown upon the couch.
"You are mad!" cried Hallam passionately. "They'll wreck the place
now."
"They won't hurt us," said Crellock coolly; and to Julia's horror he
threw open the window as the convicts came up at the double and rushed
into the room.
"Steady, mates, steady!" shouted Hallam. "You know us."
The leading men hesitated a moment, and then one of them made a dash at
Eaton.
"Now, boys, have him out," he cried.
Julia shrieked, and threw herself before the helpless man, when the
convict rudely caught her by the arms to swing her aside, but was sent
staggering sideways from a blow dealt by Bayle.
"Save him, Mr Bayle," shrieked Julia, as she clung to Eaton. "Father!
oh, father, help!"
Neither Hallam nor Crellock stirred as the man whom Bayle had struck
uttered an oath which was echoed by his companions, who seized Bayle and
held him as others of the party dragged out Eaton, fortunately
insensible to all that was going on.
In their insensate fury believing that they had a long list of injuries
to repay the convict guard, who in guarding them had only done their
duty, in another minute Eaton's life would have been sacrificed, when
there was the tramp of feet, an order given in a loud voice, and a party
of soldiers led by Captain Otway dashed up with bayonets fixed. And
then two wounded convicts were lying on the floor, the others were in
full flight down the gully, pursued by the troops, a shot every now and
then breaking the silence that had fallen upon the group.
Hallam was the first to speak, and he turned angrily upon Bayle.
"Were you mad to bring him here?" he snarled.
"Father!" cried Julia with a reproachful look, as she knelt down beside
Eaton to hold her handkerchief to his wounded head.
Bayle made no reply to the question, but said sternly:
"Mr Hallam, you had better send for medical aid. My dear Julia, you
must go."
"No," she cried with a quick, imperious look; "send for help."
Bayle's brow contracted, but he concealed the pain he suffered as he saw
Julia bending over Eaton, and was hurrying out, but was met by Captain
Otway, who came in breathless, followed by O'Hara, and a couple of his
men.
"Is he much hurt?" he cried anxiously. "Carry out these two, my lads."
He bent down over Eaton as Julia sobbed out, "He is killed! he is
killed!"
"Oh, no: not so bad as that; only stunned. Here, you two," he continued
sharply, turning to Hallam and Crellock, "don't stand there staring.
Lift this gentleman on to the sofa."
Years of slavish obedience to authority had left their traces, and as if
moved by one impulse, they sprang to where Eaton was lying and lifted
him to the couch. The moment this was done though, Hallam gave an
impatient stamp of the foot and gazed at Crellock, who ground out
something between his teeth.
"Now fetch water--a sponge," said Otway, sheathing his sword, throwing
off his cap, and turning up his sleeves.
"This is my house--"
Hallam said no more. He had begun in a fierce, loud voice, and then he
stopped as Captain Otway turned upon him with an imperious--
"What's that you say?" Then he seemed to recall where he was, for he
glanced at Julia and Bayle. "Look here," he said quietly, and he took a
step or two towards Hallam to whisper something in his ear.
Hallam made no reply, but left the room, and did not return, Thisbe
hurrying in directly after with basin and towels, and helping eagerly.
"Oh, come, come, my dear Miss Hallam," said Otway, after cleverly
bandaging the wound. "You must not take on like that. I can't do
anything to the shoulder--at least, I will not. Our doctor will soon
put him right. There, see! he is coming to."
"I have been trying very hard," said Julia with a gasp; "but it is so
dreadful."
"No, no, no! Why, my wife would have seen it all without shedding a
tear. It's only dreadful when some one is killed, and, thank heaven! I
don't think one of the men has met that fate."
"I wish I could feel the same about the convicts," said Bayle softly.
"The convicts? Well, I wish so, too, Mr Bayle; but law and order must
be maintained, and they know their lives are forfeit if they attempt to
escape."
Bayle nodded in acquiescence as he glanced at where Julia knelt beside
Eaton, crying softly, and fanning his face.
"There, you have nothing to fear, Miss Hallam," continued the Captain
kindly. "Eaton has only had a few hard knocks--soldier's salary, I call
them. As to the rising, the poor wretches are, I expect, all taken by
this time. Yes, here they come."
He had walked to the window and gazed out to see the greater part of the
convict gang, hot, bleeding some of them, and dejected, coming along,
guarded by the soldiers under the command of a boyish-looking ensign.
"Ah, Mr O'Hara," he said, stepping out, and laying his hand on the
young Irishman's shoulder, "I think we may thank you for getting up in
time. Your message set us off, and we met you just in the nick. Why,
man, you are hurt."
"Not much, sir. They shot at me, and the bullet grazed my arm."
"Come in," he said, "and let me see."
O'Hara followed unwillingly, but had to submit to have his wound
dressed.
"Where is your master?" said the Captain at last, turning to Thisbe.
"In his room, sir."
"Fetch him."
Hallam uttered a furious oath when the message was given, and swore he
would not come. Then, rising from his chair, he followed Thisbe to the
dining-room like one compelled to obey.
"I am going to leave my brother officer in your charge, Mr Hallam,"
said the Captain in the quick manner of one giving an order. "You will
see that he has every attention! The regimental surgeon will be up in
an hour or so. Miss Hallam, thank you for your kindness," he continued,
turning his back on Hallam. "Good-morning, Mr Bayle. I'm sorry you
have had such an upset. You stay here, I suppose?"
"No," said Bayle quietly; "I am going back to the town."
"Come with me, then."
He stepped out, and Bayle followed, but turned to look at Julia, who
gave him one quick look that seemed to say "Good bye," and then as he
stepped out into the verandah he saw her bending over Eaton again.
"Nice little girl that," said the Captain, as they marched down behind
the guards and the wretched men they drove before them almost at the
bayonet's point.
Bayle bowed.
"Sweet and innocent, and all that. Really, Mr Bayle, I agree with my
wife."
"Indeed!" said Bayle.
"Yes; she thinks that at any cost her friends ought to have kept her in
England, and not brought her here."
Christie Bayle made no reply, for he was thinking of Philip Eaton lying
wounded up at the house, and Julia installing herself as his nurse.
But she was not bending over him at that time, for no sooner had the
last of the party gone, than Crellock said something fiercely to Hallam.
"No, no, never mind," the latter said, savagely.
"I tell you I won't have it," cried Crellock. "Ah, you needn't scowl
like that. I'm not afraid of your looks. Will you go and fetch her
out?"
"No, I shall not interfere."
"Then I will," cried Crellock, passionately. "I've been played with too
long."
"Played with!" cried Hallam. "Look here, Steve, if I put up with the
bullying of that officer fellow, don't you think I'm going to let you
say and do what--"
He stopped short and literally flinched, as if he expected a blow, for
Crellock turned upon him sharply, but merely looked him full in the
face.
"Well, I--that is--I--"
He faltered and stopped. The old days of his domination had gone by;
Crellock had ceased to be slave to the self-indulgent man, who had
become servant, first to the strong drinks in which he indulged, and
then, as his nerve failed, the obedient tool of him who had once
trembled before him, worshipped him almost as the very perfection of
what a man should be, and now made him tremble before him in his turn.
"Do you want to quarrel and get rid of me?" said Crellock, sharply.
"Don't talk like that, my lad," said Hallam, piteously. "You know how
my health's going, and how nervous I am. It makes me irritable when you
are so unreasonable."
"Yes, very unreasonable to bear what I do," snarled Crellock. "But
reasonable or no, I'm not going to back out of it, and I am not going to
let you."
Hallam's flushed face turned of a sodden white.
"I'd just as soon be back with the gang," continued Crellock, "as be
trifled with in this way by a man who used to be one to say a thing and
do it. Now he's becoming a miserable, feeble driveller, afraid of every
one who speaks to him."
"So were you just now, when that Otway gave his orders."
"Force of habit," said Crellock, with a grim smile. "Anyhow, I'm not
afraid of you, and if you have not strength of mind enough to carry out
what I say, I shall do it without you."
"No, no, Steve; you are so hasty," said Hallam, in a feeble, whimpering
tone.
"Hasty!"
"Well, as I keep telling you, there's plenty of time."
"And I keep telling you there is not. Look here, Hallam. I'm not
blind. That miserable parson wants her."
"Now you are getting ridiculous."
"And this officer fellow will be making such way with her, if I don't
mind, that I shall have no chance."
"You're frightening yourself with bogies, Steve."
"You're playing such a double game, Robert Hallam, that either I shall
have to take the reins in my own hands, or we shall come to a
breakdown."
"Nonsense! What's the use of talking like that?"
"What's the use of a man setting his mind upon something, and then
letting a weak thing like you play with him? I'll have no more of it.
Now you have to do as I say or break, and that means--"
"Hush, Steve!" cried Hallam, looking sharply round; but Crellock paid no
heed to his words, and swung out of the study to walk straight into the
room where Julia was kneeling by Eaton, with Thisbe on the other side.
"Come here, Julia," he said roughly; "I want you."
"Hush! Not so loud," she whispered, raising her hand.
"Come here!" he cried, with a stamp of the foot, "at once."
Julia started to her feet with an angry look flashing from her eyes; and
as she faced him, her countenance full of resentment, Thisbe rose,
thinking of her mistress in bygone days.
"What do you want?" she said firmly.
"Your father wants you in the study at once."
Julia flushed slightly, and glanced at Thisbe, whose face looked as hard
as if cut in stone, while the resemblance was increased by the position
of her eyelids, which were drawn down, as if to veil the anger that was
burning in her breast.
Then, without a word Julia left the room, closely followed by Crellock,
and Thisbe was left with the wounded man alone.