at the slide.  A beam, pale but wavering, shot out into the darkness as he succeeded in his effort, and by its light, as men in moments of emotion may see some one thing or action painted on their retina by a lightning flash, he saw Archelaus bringing his stick, muffled in a coat, down on Ishmael’s head.  The next second the blow fell—­there had not been time for Archelaus to check the impetus of the blow when the discovering light flared onto him.  There came the heavy sound of a body falling on the thick-piled leaves.  Archelaus stumbled up against Killigrew, knocking the lantern from his hand; it hit against a boulder and went out.

It was the voice of Archelaus that broke the stricken stillness.

“Don’t ’ee move, you chaps ...” it said, in tones that made a ghastly essay at confidence and trembled despite his efforts.  “I fear Silly Peter’s done someone a hurt....  I saw en striking out....  Why ded’n ’ee all keep still same as I ded ... someone light a lantern....”  Followed a sound of fumbling, and then a light wavered in Killigrew’s fingers; he picked up and lit a lantern.  By its light could be seen Archelaus holding a bewildered Silly Peter, whose mouth and eyes hung open with fear, while from his hand depended a stick wrapped in a coat.  Even in that dim light wet marks could be seen on it.  The brain of Archelaus, perhaps stirred to activity by his first inspiration of attack as much as by the hatred that had suddenly welled up uncontrollably, had for once worked with a desperate quickness.  Everyone stared at one another over the body of Ishmael that lay huddled on its face in the leaves.

“Help me pick him up, you two,” ordered Killigrew to Jacka; “and you there, go ahead with the light.  Who is the fastest runner?”

“I’ll go for doctor,” said Archelaus. “’Tes my right.  He’n my brother.”  He boggled a little at the word.

“You!” began Killigrew, then stopped.  His quick intuition had told him how important it was to Archelaus also to be the first to get the doctor.  Killigrew was not a cynic, even at that age; he was merely supremely utilitarian.

“Off you go,” he said, “and remember I shall be timing you.  The doctor must be at Cloom as soon as we are.”

“He shall be,” declared Archelaus, and meant it.  He kept his word.  By the time that Ishmael had been laid beneath the drooping Christ who had seen so much of passion and misery, of birth and death, in that same bed spread before Him, the doctor was there too.  And round the bed clustered as many distraught women, and men hovering at their skirts, as gathered at the foot of the plaster Calvary above.  Even the intent dog was not wanting, as poor Wanda, conscious of disaster to the being she worshipped, whimpered and shivered, her back curved in an arch of distress, by the head of the bed.

CHAPTER VII

THE HEART OF THE CYCLONE