Had Strang, in the virulence of that hatred which he concealed so well, conceived of this spot to give added torment to death?
It was the poetry of vengeance! For the first time Neil turned toward his companion.

Each read what the other had guessed.
Neil, who was nearest to the whispering four, turned suddenly toward them and listened.

When he looked at Nathaniel again it was with a slow negative shake of his head.
Jeekum returned quickly and placed himself between them, seizing each by an arm, and the forward guards, pivoting to the left, set off at their steady pace across the clearing.

As they entered the denser gloom of the forest on the farther side Nathaniel felt the jailer's fingers tighten about his arm, then relax--and tighten again.

A gentle pressure held him back and the guards in front gained half a dozen feet.