"
"The innocent man _is_ in trouble!" I said, passionately. "Is it nothing
that he should die, if truth could save him? You may go back if you
like; but I shall go on. Tell me, whose place is this?"
"Never mind, my dear young lady," he said, soothingly. "Go on, and the
Lord be with you! But be careful. You're sure you see it now?"
"Certain," I said. "It is moving. Come on."
We went forward, and I heard a click behind me.
"What is that?" I said.
"Hush!" he whispered; "make no noise! It was my pistol. Go gently, my
dear young lady. It is a farmyard, and you may stumble."
"It has stopped over a building!" I whispered.
"Not the house!" he returned, hoarsely.
"I am going on," I said. "Here we are. What is it? Whose is it?"
He came close to me, and whispered solemnly--
"Miss Dorothy! be brave, and make no noise! We are in Farmer Parker's
yard; and this is a barn."
Then the terror came over me.
"Let us turn back," I said. "You are right. One may bear one's own
troubles, but not drag in other people. Take me home!"
But Robert would not take me home; and my courage came back, and I held
the lantern whilst he unfastened the door. Then the ghastly hand passed
into the barn, and we followed it.
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