"Yassuh. You lemme go ahead. You jest wait in dat thicket next to de corner o' de big gyarden. I'll ride aroun' through de fields an' come into the barnyard by de back gate. Dey won't know I been gone. Den I'll come to de thicket an' tell you de whole lay o' de land."
The negro turned from the road through a gate, and Erskine heard the thud of his horse's hoofs across the meadow turf. He rode on slowly, hitched Firefly as close to the edge of the road as was safe, and crept to the edge of the garden, where he could peer through the hedge. The hall-door was open and the hallway lighted; so was the dining-room; and there were lights in Barbara's room. There were no noises, not even of animal life, and no figures moving about or in the house. What could he do? One thing at least, no matter what happened to him--he could number Dane Grey's days and make this night his last on earth. It would probably be his own last night, too. Impatiently he crawled back to the edge of the road. More quickly than he expected, he saw Ephraim's figure slipping through the shadows toward him.
"Dey's jus' through supper," he reported. "Miss Barbary didn't eat wid 'em. She's up in her room. Dat udder orficer been stormin' at Marse Grey an' hurryin' him up. Mammy been holdin' de little Missus back all she can. She say she got to make like she heppin' her pack. De sojers down dar by de wharf playin' cards an' drinkin'. Dat udder man been drinkin' hard. He got his head on de table now an' look like he gone to sleep."
"Ephraim," said Erskine quickly, "go tell Mr. Grey that one of his men wants to see him right away at the sun-dial. Tell him the man wouldn't come to the house because he didn't want the others to know--that he has something important to tell him. When he starts down the path you run around the hedge and be on hand in the bushes."
"Yassuh," and the boy showed his teeth in a comprehending smile. It was not long before he saw Grey's tall figure easily emerge from the hall-door and stop full in the light. He saw Ephraim slip around the corner and Grey move to the end of the porch, doubtless in answer to the black boy's whispered summons. For a moment the two figures were motionless and then Erskine began to tingle acutely from head to foot. Grey came swiftly down the great path, which was radiant with moonlight. As Grey neared the dial Erskine moved toward him, keeping in a dark shadow, but Grey saw him and called in a low tone but sharply: