He moved restlessly and touched one thing and another with nervous hands.

Then he said with a short laugh, "The size of it is, I'm running away, Mrs.
Halsey.

Ye may think I feel pretty mean, but ye'll do me the justice just to think how it is.

If they'd shoot me in fair fight, I'd go and, if it were the Lord's will, be shot to-morrow, and be thankful too; but ye know the sort of vengeance they'll take.

I have been beaten time and again before now, and covered with pitch, and I've been knocked down and kicked and ducked in ponds a good many times, as ye know, and I ain't ashamed to say that I'm afraid of that sort of thing and afraid of the results on Emmar and the children.