stump, the armed one, out of his pocket and, swinging his body back to put greater force into the blow, bring the seven-pound weight down on the hammock where the head of the sleeper ought to have been.

‘Davidson admitted to me that his hair stirred at the roots then. But for Anne his unsuspecting head would have been there. The Frenchman’s surprise must have been simply overwhelming. He staggered away from the lightly swinging hammock and before Davidson could make a movement he had vanished, bounding down the ladder to warn and alarm the other fellows.

‘Davidson sprang out of the boat, threw up the skylight flap and had a glimpse of the men down there crouching round the hatch. They looked up scared and at that moment the Frenchman outside bellowed out “Trahison! Trahison!”^* They bolted out of the cabin, falling over each other and swearing. The three shots Davidson fired down the skylight had hit no one, but he ran to the edge of the cabin-top and at once opened fire at the dark shapes rushing about the deck. These shots were returned, and a rapid fusillade burst out, reports and flashes, Davidson dodging behind a ventilator and pulling the trigger till his revolver clicked, and then throwing it down to take the other in his right hand.

‘He had been hearing in the din the Frenchman’s infuriated yells, “Tuez-le!^* Tuez-le” above the fierce cursing of the others. But though they fired at him they were only thinking of clearing out. In the flashes of the last shots Davidson saw them scrambling over the rail. That he had hit more than one he was certain. Two different voices had cried out in pain. But apparently none of them was disabled.

‘Davidson leaned against the bulwark reloading his revolver without haste. He had not the slightest apprehension of their coming back. On the other hand, he had no intention of pursuing them on shore in the dark. What they were doing he had no idea. Looking to their hurts probably. But he could hear one of them. Not very far from the bank the Frenchman was blaspheming and cursing his associates, his luck and all the world. He ceased—then with a sudden vengeful yell, “It’s that woman! It’s that woman that has done it,” was heard running off in the night.

‘Davidson caught his breath in a sudden pang of remorse. He perceived with dismay that the stratagem of his defence had given Anne away. He did not hesitate a moment. He leaped ashore. It was for him to save her now. But even as he landed on the wharf he heard a shrill shriek which pierced his very soul.

‘The light was still burning in the house. Davidson, revolver in hand, was making for it when another shriek, away to the left, made him change his direction.

‘He changed his direction—but very soon he stopped. It was then that he hesitated in cruel perplexity. He guessed what had happened. The woman had managed to escape from the house in some way and now was being chased in the open by the infuriated Frenchman. He trusted she would try to run on board for protection.

‘All was still around Davidson. Whether she had run on board or not this silence meant that the Frenchman had lost her in the dark.

‘Davidson, relieved but still very anxious, turned towards the river-side. He had not made two steps in that direction when another shriek burst out behind him, again close to the house.

‘He thinks now that the Frenchman had lost sight of that poor woman right enough. Then came that period of silence. But the horrible ruffian had not given up his murderous purpose. He reasoned that she would try to steal back to her child and went to lie in wait for her near the house.

‘It must have been something like that. As she entered the light falling about the house ladder, he had rushed at her too soon, impatient for vengeance. She had let out that scream of mortal fear when she caught sight of him, and turned to run for her life again.