CHAPTER EIGHT--THE UNHORSED NIGHTFARER
ROUND the big fireplace with its decorations of blue-and-white Colonialchina, which many a guest by vast but vain inducements had tried to buyfrom the little hostelry, sat Dick Colton, Haynes and old Johnston. Theclock had struck nine some minutes earlier.
"Your brother couldn't have caught the afternoon train," remarkedHaynes. "Was he to ride over?"
"Yes, I arranged for a saddle-horse to meet him at Amagansett," answeredColton.
"Reckon the Professor and Miss Dolly stopped at the fishermen's fordinner," opined the old man, as a soft and sudden breeze stirred thecurtains. "If they ain't in pretty quick they'll get wet. There'ssomebody now!"
A tramp of feet clumped on the porch, the door was thrown open and ayoung man limped in. He was tall, almost as tall as Dick Colton, butmuch slenderer, and extremely dark. Despite his unsteady gait, he borehimself with an inimitably buoyant and jocund carriage. His well-maderiding-suit was muddied and torn, his head was bare, and from a longbut shallow cut on his forehead blood had trickled down one side of hishandsome face, giving him an appearance of almost theatrical rakishness.
"Hello, Dick, old man!" he cried. "How goes the quest for slumber?"
"Good Lord, Ev!" responded Dick Colton, hurrying to meet him. "What'sthe matter with you? Are you hurt?"
Keenly watching the greeting, Haynes noted the evident and openaffection between the two brothers.
"Just a twisted knee," said the younger. "Thrown, Dick--thrown like ariding-school novice. I'd hate to have it get back to the troop."
"It must have been something extraordinary to get you out of thesaddle," said Dick, for Everard Colton was one of the best of theyounger polo men.
"It was extraordinary enough, all right," acquiesced the younger man,"Let me clean up and I'll tell you about it."
"Wait a moment," said Dick Colton, and introduced his brother to theother men. "Several queer things have been happening here lately," hecontinued. "We're all interested in them, particularly Mr. Haynes. Tellus now--unless you're in pain," added Dick anxiously. "Let's look atyour knee."
"Oh, that's nothing. I'm not suffering any except in my temper. Things Idon't understand disturb my judicial poise."
"Did your horse roll into one of the gullies?" asked Haynes. "There aresome nasty slides if you get off the road."
"No, my horse didn't; but I did," replied the other. "The Professor ofPrevarication who keeps the Amagansett livery stable told me that themare knew the road. If she did know it, she carefully concealed herknowledge, for as soon as the pitch darkness fell (by the way, I don'tremember a blacker night) she began to stroll across the verdant meadslike a man chewing a straw and thinking of his troubles. Except for thesound of the surf, I had no way to steer her, so I just said to her: 'Ifyou lug me back to Amagansett, I'll break every rib in your umbrella,'and let her amble. About half an hour ago I sighted your light here.Without any cause that I could make out, my lady friend began to tossher head upward and sniff the air and tremble."
"You think the horse heard something?" asked Haynes.
"If I'd been in a big game country I should have said she scentedsomething. It was a dead calm, and I could have heard any noise, Ithink. Well, Jezebel began to buck-jump, and I was rather enjoyingmyself when suddenly she did a thing that was new to me in the equineline. Her legs just seemed to give way from under her, and she slumpedso completely that I was flipped off sidewise. As I got to my feet Ifelt a little gust of air that brought a curious odour very plainly tome."
"That's a new development," said Haynes quietly. "What was it like?"
"Did you ever smell a copperhead snake?"
"Often. Like ripe cucumbers."
"Yes. Well, this was something on that order, only much stronger andpretty sickening. Are there any copperheads in Montauk?"
"No, nor ever was," said Johnston positively. "Anyway, I think it wasa snake. The mare thought it was something uncanny. She went crazy, andbegan to rave and tear like a bucking automobile. Just as I thought Iwas getting her calmed I stepped on a round stone, that slid me downinto a gully on one side of my face. Again I felt that strange rush offoul air. Jezebel gave a yell and broke away, and I was adrift on thebroad prairies. There's one thing I noticed--oh, well, I suppose Iimagined it."
"No. Go on. Tell us what it was."
"Well, the draft of wind seemed to come from opposite directions. Itseemed as if something had passed and repassed above me."
Dick Colton turned to Haynes. "'The Wonderful Whalley' is somewhere onthe knolls," he said.
"Yes; but he isn't flying around in the air on a broomstick."
"One could almost believe he had other attributes of the vampire besidesthe blood-thirst," replied Colton. "Ev, Mr. Johnston will show you yourroom. Come down when you're ready. I've got something to look after."
"You're worried about Miss--about the Ravendens," said Haynes to Dickas the junior Colton left the room. "Wait a moment, till I get lanterns.I'm going with you."
"Thank you," said Dick quietly. "I thought you would. Ev won't like itmuch when he finds there's something afoot and he has been left out."
"He's had his share. I've an idea that your brother has been near todeath to-night."
"The more reason for haste, then."
"I'll strike off inland. You take the sea side," said Haynes, as the twolighted lanterns and passed out into the dead blackness. "And, by theway," he added, "I wouldn't make my light any more conspicuous thannecessary."
"All right," said Dick. "I've no particular desire to attract Whalley'sattention."
Within ten minutes the young doctor heard voices, and called. ProfessorRavenden's dry accents answered him. With a hail to Haynes, Colton ranforward. He almost plunged into Dolly Ravenden's horse, which reared andsnorted.
"What is it?" cried the girl. "Oh, it's Dr. Colton. Are you hunting thenight-flying _arachnida?_"
"I was looking for you."
"Has anything happened?" asked the girl quickly, sobered by his tone."Helga? Mr. Haynes?"
"No, all are safe." He laid his hand on the neck of her mount. "But youmust come home at once. There is danger abroad."
"Why, Dr. Colton, you're trembling! I wouldn't have believed you knewwhat it was to be afraid."
"You don't know what it is to care----" he cut off the words withsomething like a sob. "Thank God, we found you!"
Then the girl had cause to bless the darkness, for from her heart theresurged a flood to her face, and with it woman's first doubt and fear andglory. "Perhaps I do know," she thought. For an instant, she closed hereyes and saw him as he had come draggled and staggering from the sea.She opened them upon his stalwart figure and the clean-cut, manly face,still drawn with anxiety, clear in the light of the lantern.
"It was good of you to brave the danger," she said sweetly. "I have hada premonition of some tragedy overhanging, since we found the sheep."
"Well, Professor! Hello, Miss Dolly!" called Haynes, as he swung up on atrot. "Are you all right? Better hurry in. There's a storm coming."
"It is something besides a storm that brought you gentlemen out ona search for us," said Professor Ravenden shrewdly. "While properlyappreciative, I should be glad to have an explanation." The explanationcame swiftly, from the direction of the sea. It was a long-drawn,high-pitched scream. There was in it a cadence of mortal terror; thelast agony rang shrill and unmistakable from its quivering echoes. MissRavenden's horse bounded in the air; but Colton's weight on the bridlebrought it down shaking.
"That was a horse," said the girl tremulously. "Poor thing!"
"In dire extremity, if I mistake not," added the professor. "I ambeginning to feel an interest which I trust is not unscientific in thissuccession of phenomena."
"I think," said Haynes quickly, "that the house is the place for us justnow. That's the end of your brother's horse," he added to Colton in alow tone.
When Dick Colton lifted the girl from her saddle at the front porch hesaid to
her: "Miss Ravenden, may I ask you to promise me something?"
"_I_ don't know," said the girl, in sudden apprehension. "What is it?"
"That you will not go out alone on the grassland again, nor go out evenwith your father after dusk, until Mr. Haynes or I tell you it is safe?"
"I promise. But won't you tell me what you have found out?"
"Something unhorsed my brother as he came across the point in thedarkness, and that was his mare's death-cry you heard from the shore."
When they were inside, Haynes suggested that they hold a briefconsultation, at which all should be present. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston,Helga and Everard Colton were sent for. In the stress of the momentHaynes had forgotten that Helga had not been warned of the youngerColton's coming. Everard came into the room first, and provided hisbrother with a surprise, by rushing at Miss Ravenden as if bent ondevouring her.
"Little Dot, the butterfly's Nemesis!" he cried. "When did you get here,and how? And Professor too! Well, this is a lark!" To which greeting theRavendens responded with equal warmth.
"Dick, you scoundrel, why didn't you tell me they were here?" criedEverard.
"I didn't know you knew them," returned the bewildered Dick.
"Know them? Why, I've spent a week of my latest vacation on theirhouse-boat. The _Lepidoptero_ of half the Southern States shriek aloudwhen they see Miss Ravenden and me approaching. Besides, I'm useful, amI not, Dolly?"
"Not in terms that could be reduced to an estimate," said that youngwoman.
"Ungrateful maiden! Don't I shoo off your swarming adorers, comprisingall the polyglot of Washington and most of the blue blood ofPhiladelphia? I'm the only man in America who can be with Miss DorothyRavenden for three consecutive days without falling desperately in lovewith her. I escape only because I know it's hopeless."
"Oh, is that it?" said Dolly demurely. "I had heard there was a moretangible reason for my bereavement. Vardy, you're looking serious inspite of all your nonsense. I believe, upon my soul, the stories aretrue."
"Oh, Dick," said Everard hastily, "I nearly forgot about that packageof books. I dropped'em outside. Here they are and they'll cost you justeight dollars and eighty cents and the price of a drink for my troublein bringing them. Don't know what they are, because I turned over yourtelegram to Towney; but by their weight they're worth the money. Let'shave a look at them."
Before Dick could protest he had opened the package.
"'Summer reading for a young physician,'" he began, looking at thetitles. "What have we here? Harris' 'Insects Injurious to Vegetation'The Butterfly Book,' by Holland; 'Special Report on the Spiders of LongIsland'; 'North American'--well, by my proud ancestral halls!"
"Give me those books, Ev!" said Dick sharply. "Little Everard, the BoyWonder, has put a dainty foot in it again!" He laughed banteringly,looking from Dorothy Ravenden to Dick and back again. "Dick, too? Oh,Dolly, couldn't you leave the family alone for my sake? Case of 'Loveme, love my bugs'!"
But even the much-allowanced Everard had gone too far. Dolly Ravendenturned upon him with an expression which boded ill for the venturesomeyoung man, when a volume of song from the hallway, that seemed,controlled and effortless as it was, to fill full and permeate everyfarthest nook and corner of the house, stopped her. It was Helga singinga quaint and stirring old ballad.
"Where there is no place For the glow-worm to lie, Where there is no space For receipt of a fly; Where the midge dare not venture Lest herself fast she lay, If Love come he will enter And will find out the way."
"Heavens!" exclaimed Dick Colton. "What a voice! Who is it?"
"Haven't you heard Helga sing?" said Dolly Ravenden, in surprise. "Isn'tit superb!"
Everard had risen and was looking hungrily toward the door. Dolly lookedkeenly at him, and saw in his face a look that she had seen in many aman's eyes, but that no woman but one had ever before seen in EverardColton's.
"It _is_ true," she said to herself. The voice went on:
"There is no striving To cross his intent, There is no contriving His plots to prevent; For if once the message greet him That his true-love doth stay, Though Death come forth to meet him, Love will find out the way."
The soft, deep, triumphant final note died away. There was a moment'ssilence.
"Dick, you ought to have told me," said Everard, unsteadily.
But Dick paid no heed. He was looking at Haynes, upon whose cold andrather hard-lined face was such an expression of loving pride andyearning, as utterly transfigured it.
"I ought to be kicked for bringing Everard down here," thought thegentle-hearted young doctor.
The door opened and Helga entered. As if drawn magnetically, her gazewent straight to Everard Colton. She stopped short.
"Helga!" said he.
The girl caught her breath sharply. Her hand fluttered toward herbreast, and fell again. Her colour faded; but instantly she was mistressof herself.
"Good-evening, Mr. Colton," she said quietly, and gave him her hand asshe came forward. "Did you come in this evening? It always is wiser towrite ahead for rooms."
"I don't understand," he stammered. "Are you--do you live here?"
"This is my father's hotel," she explained. "Father, this is Mr. EverardColton. Is there a room for him?"
"I've found my room," said Everard hoarsely, and there followed asilence which Miss Ravenden maliciously enjoyed, her eyes sparkling ather erstwhile tormentor's discomfiture.
Haynes broke the silence. "This is all very pleasant," he said sharplyand with an effort, "but it isn't business. And we have business of arather serious nature on hand. There is just this to say: Somewhere onthe point is this juggler. He is armed, and there is at least a strongsuspicion that he is murderous. The death of the sailor, the killing ofthe sheep, and Mr. Colton's adventure show plainly enough that there isperil abroad. It may or may not have to do with the juggler. But untilthe man is captured, I think the ladies should not leave the housealone; and none of us should go far alone or unarmed. Is that agreed?"
"I agree for myself and my daughter to your very well-judgedsuggestion," said Professor Ravenden, "and I have in my room an extrarevolver which I will gladly lend to anyone."
The others also assented to the plan, and at Haynes' suggestion theweapon went to Helga's adopted father. Dick Colton had a navy revolver,Everard had his cavalry arm, and Haynes had written for a pistol.
"Would it not be well," suggested the professor, "to notify theauthorities?"
"The average town constable is appointed to keep him out of the imbecileasylum," said Haynes. "I believe we can organise a vigilance committeeright here and see it through. Besides," he added with a smile, "I wantthe story exclusively for my paper."