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Buck, Charles Neville, 1879-1930

"A Pagan of the Hills"

Neither dared pause and desperation had endowed them with a
strength as unwonted and exaggerated as that which his frenzy brings to
a maniac.
The fallen figure lay quiet enough, but the remaining three swept in
tempestuous chaos about the place. The table was wrecked--the
furniture shattered--all were bleeding and panting in sob-like
brokenness of breath.
Two bore the brand-like marks of handcuffs; the other a great welt
across the forehead, left there by the large file, but at the end one
figure straightened up--his task ended--and behind him lay three that
would not soon be ready to fight again. Then, unlocking the door,
Halloway let himself out into the night.
He paused on the platform and drew a long breath and after that,
plunging his hands deep into his pockets, he strolled along whistling.
But when he had come to the edge of the town and the road toward
Wolf-Pen Gap, he broke into a run.

Alexander had stood waiting for a while at the edge of the rock,
wondering who these men might be who were approaching with such an
extremity of caution.


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