the deliverance-第70部分

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But　the　power　of　speech　had　departed　from　Will　in　the　presence　that　he　dreaded；　and　he　stood　clutching　tightly　to　his　harvest　hat；　and　shaking　his　head　as　if　to　deny　the　obvious　fact　of　his　own　identity。

〃I　thought　it　was　you；〃　pursued　Fletcher；　licking　his　dry　lips。　〃I　heard　a　noise；　and　I　picked　up　my　stick；　thinking　it　was　you。　I'll　have　no　thieving　beggars　on　my　place；　I　tell　you；　so　the　quicker　you　git　off　the　better。　When　were　you　here　last；　I'd　like　to　know？〃

〃Yesterday；〃　answered　Will；　speaking　the　truth　from　sheer　physical　inability　to　frame　a　lie。　〃I　came　to　see　Maria。　She's　cheated　meshe's　cheated　me　all　along。〃

〃Then　she　lied；〃　said　Fletcher　softly。　〃Then　she　lied　and　I　didn't　know　it。〃

〃She's　cheated　me；〃　insisted　Will　hoarsely。　〃It's　been　all　a　scheme　of　hers　from　the　very　beginning。　She's　cheated　me　about　the　will；　grandpa；　I　swear　she　has。〃

〃Eh？　What's　that？〃　responded　the　old　man；　shaking　back　his　heavy　eyebrows。　〃Say　your　say　right　now；　for　in　five　minutes　you　go　off　this　place　with　every　hound　in　the　pack　yelping　at　your　heels。　I'll　not　have　you　hereI'll　not　have　you　here！〃

The　words　ended　in　a　snarl；　and　a　fleck　of　foam　dropped　on　his　gray　beard。

〃But　it　was　all　Maria's　doing；〃　urged　Will　passionately。　〃She　has　been　against　me　from　the　first；　I　see　that　now。　She's　plotted　to　oust　me　from　the　very　start。〃

〃Well；　she　might　have　spared　herself　the　trouble；〃　was　Fletcher's　sharp　rejoinder。

〃Let　me　explainlet　me　explain；〃　pleaded　the　other；　in　a　desperate　effort　to　gain　time；　〃just　a　word　or　twoI　only　want　a　word。〃

But　when　his　grandfather　drew　back　and　stood　glowering　upon　him　in　silence；　the　speech　he　had　wished　to　utter　withered　upon　his　lips；　blighted　by　a　panic　terror；　and　he　stood　mumbling　incoherently　beneath　his　breath。

〃Give　me　a　worda　word　is　all　I　want；〃　he　reiterated　wildly。

〃Then　out　with　your　damned　word　and　begone！〃　roared　Fletcher。

Will's　eyes　travelled　helplessly　around　the　room；　seeking　in　vain　some　inspiration　from　the　objects　his　gaze　encountered。　The　tin　safe；　the　basket　of　feathers；　the　pile　of　walnuts　on　the　hearth；　each　arrested　his　wandering　attention　for　an　instant；　and　he　beheld　all　the　details　with　amazing　vividness。

A　mouse　came　out　into　the　room；　gliding　like　a　shadow　along　the　wall　to　the　pile　of　walnuts；　and　his　eyes　followed　it　as　if　drawn　by　an　invisible　thread。

〃It's　Mariait's　all　Maria；〃　he　stuttered；　and　could　think　of　nothing　further。　His　brain　seemed　suddenly　paralysed；　and　he　found　himself　tugging　hopelessly　at　the　most　commonplace　word　which　would　not　come。　All　his　swaggering　bravado　had　scampered　off　at　the　first　wag　of　the　old　man's　head。

〃If　that's　what　you've　got　to　say；　you　might　as　well　be　gone；〃　returned　Fletcher；　moving　toward　him。　〃I　warn　you　now　that　the　next　time　I　find　you　here　you　won't　git　off　so　easy。　Maria　or　no　Maria；　you　ain't　goin'　to　lounge　about　this　place　so　long　as　my　name　is　Bill　Fletcher。　The　farther　you　keep　yourself　and　your　yaller…headed　huzzy　out　of　my　sight　the　better。　Thar；　now；　be　off　or　you'll　git　a　licking。〃

〃But　I　tell　you　Maria's　cheated　meshe's　cheated　me；〃　returned　Will；　his　voice　rising　shrilly　as　he　was　goaded　into　revolt。　〃She's　been　scheming　to　get　the　place　all　along；　that's　her　trick。〃

〃Pish！　Tush！〃　responded　Fletcher。　〃Are　you　going　or　are　you　not？〃

Will's　eyes　burned　like　coals；　and　an　observer；　noting　the　two　men　as　they　stood　glaring　at　each　other；　would　have　been　struck　by　their　resemblance　in　attitude　and　expression　rather　than　in　feature。　Both　leaned　slightly　forward；　with　their　chins　thrust　out　and　their　jaws　dropped；　and　there　was　a　ceaseless　twitching　of　the　small　muscles　in　both　faces。　The　beast　in　each　had　sprung　violently　to　the　surface　and　recognised　the　likeness　at　which　he　snarled。

〃You've　left　me　to　starve！〃　cried　Will；　strangling　a　sob　of　anger。　〃It's　not　fair！　You　have　no　right。　The　money　ought　to　be　mineI　swear　it　ought！〃

〃Oh；　it　ought；　ought　it？〃　sneered　the　old　man；　with　an　ugly　laugh。

At　the　sound　of　the　laugh；　Will　shrank　back　and　shivered　as　if　from　the　stroke　of　a　whip。　The　spirit　of　rage　worked　in　his　blood　like　the　spirit　of　drink；　and　he　felt　his　disordered　nerves　respond　in　a　sudden　frenzy。

〃It　ought　to　be　mine；　you　devil；　and　you　know　it！〃　he　cried。

〃I　do；　do　I？〃　retorted　Fletcher；　still　cackling。　〃Well；　jest　grin　at　me　a　minute　longer　like　that　brazen　wench　your　mother　and　I'll　lay　my　stick　across　your　shoulders　for　good　and　all。　As　for　my　money；　it's　mine；　I　reckon；　and；　living　or　dead；　I'll　look　to　it　that　not　one　red　cent　gits　to　you。　Blast　you！　Stop　your　grinning！〃

He　raised　the　stick　and　made　a　long　swerve　sideways；　but　the　other；　picking　up　the　hammer　from　the　hearth；　jerked　it　above　his　head　and　stood　braced　for　the　assault。　In　the　silence　of　the　room　Will　heard　the　thumping　of　his　own　heart；　and　the　sound　inspired　him　like　the　drums　of　battle。　He　was　in　a　quiver　from　head　to　foot；　but　it　was　a　quiver　of　rage；　not　of　fear；　and　a　glow　of　pride　possessed　him　that　he　could　lift　his　eyes　and　look　Fletcher　squarely　in　the　face。

〃You're　a　devila　devil！　a　devil！〃　he　cried　shrilly；　sticking　out　his　tongue　like　a　pert　and　vulgar　little　boy。　〃Christopher　Blake　was　rightyou're　a　devil！〃

As　the　name　struck　him　between　the　eyes　the　old　man　lurched　back　against　the　stove；　then　recovering　himself；　he　made　a　swift　movement　forward　and　brought　his　stick　down　with　all　his　force　on　the　boy's　shoulder。

〃Take　that；　you　lying　varmint！〃　he　shouted；　choking。

The　next　instant　his　weapon　had　dropped　from　his　hand；　and　he　reached　out　blindly；　grappling　with　the　air；　for　Will　had　turned　upon　him　with　the　spring　of　a　wild　beast　and　sent　the　hammer　crushing　into　his　temple。

There　was　a　muffled　thud；　and　Fletcher　went　down　in　a　huddled　heap　upon　the　floor；　while　the　other　stood　over　him　in　the　weakness　which　had　succeeded　his　drunken　frenzy。

〃I　told　you　to　let　me　alone。　I　told　you　I'd　do　it；〃　said　Will　doggedly；　and　a　moment　later：　〃I　told　you　I'd　do　it。〃

The　hammer　was　still　in　his　hand；　and；　lifting　it；　he　examined　it　with　a　morbid　curiosity。　A　red　fleck　stained　the　iron；　and　glancing　down　he　saw　that　there　was　a　splotch　of　blood　on　Fletcher's　temple。　〃I　told　him　I'd　do　it；〃　he　repeated；　speaking　this　time　to　himself。

Then　instantly　the　silence　in　the　room　stopped　his　heartbeats　and　set　him　quaking　in　a　superstitious　terror　through　every　fiber。　He　heard　the　stir　of　the　mouse　in　the　pile　of　walnuts；　the　hissing　of　the　flame　above　the　embers；　and　the　sudden　breaking　of　the　smoked　chimney　of　the　lamp。　Then　as　he　leaned　down　he　heard　something　elsethe　steady　ticking　of　the　big　silver　watch　in　Fletcher's　pocket。

A　horror　of　great　darkness　fell　over　him；　and；　turning；　he　reeled　like　a　drunken　man　out　into　the　night。



CHAPTER　IX。　The　Fulfilling　of　the　Law

Christopher　had　helped　Tucker　upstairs　to　bed　and　had　gone　into　his　own　room　to　undress；　when　a　sharp　and　persistent　rattle　upon　the　closed　shutters　brought　him　in　alarm　to　his　feet。　Looking　out；　he　saw　a　man's　figure　outlined　in　the　moonlight　on　the　walk；　and；　at　once　taking　it　to　be　Will；　he　ran　hastily　down　and　unbarred　the　door。

〃Come　in　quietly；〃　he　said。　〃Uncle　Tucker　is　asleep　upstairs。　What　in　thunder　is　the　trouble　now？〃

Stepping　back；　he　led　the　way　into　what　so　short　a　time　ago　had　been　Mrs。　Blake's　parlour；　and　then　pausing　in　the　center　of　the　floor；　stood　waiting　with　knitted　brows　for　an　explanation　of　the　visit。　But　Will；　who　had　shrunk　dazzled　from　the　flash　of　the　lamp；　now　lingered　to　put　up　the　bar　with　shaking　hands。

〃For　God's　sake；　what　is　it？〃　questioned　Christopher；　and　a　start　shook　through　him　at　sight　of　the　other's　face。　〃Have　you　had　a　fit？〃

Closing　the　parlour　door　behind　him；　Will　crossed　the　room　and　caught　at　the　mantel　for　support。　〃I　told　you　I'd　do　it　some　dayI　told　you　I'd　do　it；〃　he　said　incoherently；　in　a　frantic　effort　to　shift　the　burden　of　responsibility　upon　stronger　shoulders。

〃You　might　have　known　all　along　that　I'd　do　it　some　day。〃

〃Do　what？〃　demanded　Christopher；　while　he　felt　the　current　of　his　blood　grow　weak。　〃Out　with　it；　now。　Speak　up。　You're　as　white　as　a　sheet。〃

〃He　struck　mehe　struck　me　first。　The　bruise　is　here；〃　resumed　Will；　in　the　same　eager　attempt　at　self　justification。　〃Then　I　hit　him　on　the　head　with　a　hammer　and　his　skull　gave　way。　I　didn't　hit　hard。　I　swear　it　was　a　little　blow；　but　he's　dead。　I　left　him　stone　dead　in　the　kitchen。　〃

〃My　God；　man！〃　exclaimed　Christopher；　and　touched　him　on　the　shoulder。

With　a　groan；　Will　put　up　his　hands　and　covered　his　bloodshot　eyes。　〃I　didn't　mean　to　do　itI　swear　I　didn't；〃　he　protested。　〃Who'd　have　thought　his　head　would　crush　in　like　that　at　the　first　little　blowjust　a　tap　with　an　old　hammer？　Why；　it　would　hardly　have　cracked　a　walnut！　And　what　was　the　hammer　doing　there；　anyway？　They　have　no　business　to　leave　such　things　lying　about　on　the　hearth。　It　was　all　their　faultthey　ought　to　have　put　the　hammer　away。〃

A　convulsive　shudder　ran　through　him；　ending　in　his　hands　and　feet；　which　jerked　wildly。　His　face　was　gray　and　oldso　old　that　he　might　have　been　taken；　at　the　first　glance；　for　a　man　of　eighty；　and　in　the　intervals　between　his　words　he　sucked　in　his　breath　with　a　hissing　noise。　Meeting　Christopher's　look；　he　broke　into　a　spasm　of　frightened　sobs；　whimpering　like　a　child　that　has　been　whipped。

〃I　told　you　not　to　drink　again；〃　said　Christopher　sharply　as　he　struggled　to　collect　his　thoughts。　〃I　told　you　liquor　would　make　a　beast　of　you。〃

〃I'll　never　touch　another　drop。　I　swear　I'll　never　touch　another　drop；〃　groaned　Will；　still　sobbing。　〃I　didn't　mean　to　kill　him；　I　tell　you。　It　wasn't　as　if　I　really　meant　to　kill　him；　you　see　that。　It　was　all　the　fault　of　that　accursed　hammer　they　left　lying　on　the　hearth。　A　man　must　have　a　lot　of　courage　to　murder　anybodymustn't　he？〃　he　added；　with　a　feeble　smile；　〃and　I'm　a　cowardyou　know　I've　always　been　a　coward；　haven't　Ihaven't　I？〃　he　persisted；　and　Christopher　nodded　an　agreement。

〃You　see；　I　wasn't　to　blame；　after　all；　but　he　flew　into　such　a　ragehe　always　flew　into　a　rage　when　he　heard　your　name。〃

〃So　you　brought　my　name　in？〃　asked　Christopher　carelessly。

〃Oh；　it　was　that　that　did　it；　it