By now Darden’s Audrey had left the boat and was close upon them.  MacLean arose, and Truelove hastily pushed aside her wheel.  “Is thee seeking shelter from the storm?” she asked tremulously, and with her cheeks as pink as a seashell.  “Will thee sit here with us?  The storm will not break yet awhile.”

Audrey heeded her not, her eyes being for MacLean.  She had been running,—­running more swiftly than for a thousand May Day guineas.  Even now, though her breath came short, every line of her slender figure was tense, and she was ready to be off like an arrow.  “You are Mr. Haward’s friend?” she cried.  “I have heard him say that you were so—­call you a brave gentleman”—­

MacLean’s dark face flushed.  “Yes, we are friends,—­I thank God for it.  What have you to do with that, my lass?”

“I also am his friend,” said Audrey, coming nearer.  Her hands were clasped, her bosom heaving.  “Listen!  To-day I was sent on an errand to a house far up this creek.  Coming back, I took the short way home through the woods because of the storm.  It led me past the schoolhouse down by the big swamp.  I thought that no one was there, and I went and sat down upon the steps to rest a moment.  The door behind me was partly open.  Then I heard two voices:  the schoolmaster and Jean Hugon were inside—­close to me—­talking.  I would have run away, but I heard Mr. Haward’s name.”  Her hand went to her heart, and she drew a sobbing breath.

“Well!” cried MacLean sharply.

“Mr. Haward went yesterday to Williamsburgh—­alone—­without Juba.  He rides back—­alone—­to Fair View late this afternoon—­he is riding now.  You know the sharp bend in the road, with the steep bank above and the pond below?”

“Ay, where the road nears the river.  Well?”

“I heard all that Hugon and the schoolmaster said.  I hid behind a fallen tree and watched them leave the schoolhouse; then I followed them, making no noise, back to the creek, where Hugon had a boat.  They crossed the creek, and fastened the boat on this side.  I could follow them no farther; the woods hid them; but they have gone downstream to that bend in the road.  Hugon had his hunting-knife and pistols; the schoolmaster carried a coil of rope.”  She flung back her head, and her hands went to her throat as though she were stifling.  “The turn in the road is very sharp.  Just past the bend they will stretch the rope from side to side, fastening it to two trees.  He will be hurrying home before the bursting of the storm—­he will be riding the planter’s pace”—­

“Man and horse will come crashing down!” cried the storekeeper, with a great oath “And then”—­

“Hugon’s knife, so there will be no noise....  They think he has gold upon him:  that is for the schoolmaster....  Hugon is an Indian, and he will hide their trail.  Men will think that some outlying slave was in the woods, and set upon and killed him.”

Her voice broke; then went on, gathering strength:  “It was so late, and I knew that he would ride fast because of the storm.  I remembered this house, and thought that, if I called, some one might come and ferry me over the creek.  Now I will run through the woods to the road, for I must reach it before he passes on his way to where they wait.”  She turned her face toward the pine wood beyond the house.