Alone again, the planter collapsed into his chair, breathing heavily, but his terrors swept over him and left him with a savage sense of triumph.  This passed, he sprang up, intending to recall Hicks and unmake his bargain.  What had he been thinking of—­safety lay only in flight!  Before he reached the door his greed was in the ascendant.  He dropped down on the edge of his bed, his eyes fixed on the window.  The sun sank lower.  From where he sat he saw it through the upper half of the sash, blood-red and livid in a mist of fleecy clouds.

It was in the tops of the old oaks now, which sent their shadows into his room.  Again maddened by his terrors he started up and backed toward the door; but again his greed, the one dominating influence in his life, vanquished him.

He watched the sun sink.  He watched the red splendor fade over the river; he saw the first stars appear.  He told himself that Hicks would soon be gone—­if the fire was not to be lighted he must act at once!  He stole to the window.  It was dusk now, yet he could distinguish the distant wooded boundaries of the great fields framed by the darkening sky.  Then in the silence he heard the thud of hoofs.

CHAPTER XXXI

THE KEEL BOAT

“Price " began Mahaffy.  They were back in Raleigh in the room the judge called his office, and this was Mahaffy’s first opportunity to ease his mind on the subject of the duel, as they had only just parted from Yancy and Cavendish, who had stopped at one of the stores to make certain purchases for the raft.

“Not a word, Solomon—­it had to come.  I am going to kill him.  I shall feel better then.”

“What if he kills you?” demanded Mahaffy harshly.  The judge shrugged his shoulders.

“That is as it may be.”

“Have you forgotten your grandson?” Mahaffy’s voice was still harsh and rasping.

“I regard my meeting with Fentress as nothing less than a sacred duty to him.”

“We know no more than we did this morning,” said Mahaffy.  “You are mixing up all sorts of side issues with what should be your real purpose.”

“Not at all, Solomon—­not at all!  I look upon my grandson’s speedy recovery as an assured fact.  Fentress dare not hold him.  He knows he is run to earth at last.”

“Price—­”

“No, Solomon—­no, my friend, we will not speak of it again.  You will go back to Belle Plain with Yancy and Cavendish; you must represent me there.  We have as good as found Hannibal, but we must be active in Miss Malroy’s behalf.  For us that has an important bearing on the future, and since I can not, you must be at Belle Plain when Carrington arrives with his pack of dogs.  Give him the advantage of your sound and mature judgment, Solomon; don’t let any false modesty keep you in the background.”

“Who’s going to second you?” snapped Mahaffy.