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Buck, Charles Neville, 1879-1930

"A Pagan of the Hills"


Alexander McGivins was in the most actual and imminent of conceivable
perils.
The girl's hands were no longer bound. When the commander of the group
had realized that her imprisonment was not to terminate so shortly as
had been planned he had been magnanimous to the extent of freeing her
wrists, but he had granted her no further extension of freedom.
The girl had given them no satisfaction of weakening nerve, but in her
heart she kept hidden a qualm as the time lengthened and a number of
the men went on drinking their fiery moonshine.
The pack was growing restive, openly restive now, and after yet another
council among the more important bandits, the leader came over and made
an announcement.
"Ther Clan aims now ter discuss yore case amongst themselves. We air
goin' ter leave four men hyar ter keep watch over ye whilst we're
away--an' them four has orders ter kill ye if ye seeks ter escape."
He raised his hand above his head, and wheeling, marched out through
the shaft's opening, while behind him, trailing in single file and dead
silence, trooped all the henchmen save the four left on guard.


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