In an instant I was wild with remorse and grief. I seized a chair and
sent it crashing into the hallway to attract attention. To this noise I
added my voice, and yelled for help with lungs that had aroused the
echoes on many a hunting-field. There were whisperings below, and
apparently a hurried consultation, and then a young woman came mincing
up the stairs. I must have presented a strange and terrifying spectacle
with my head bandaged and my wild manner, for the woman, with a shriek,
turned and ran down the stairs again. I cried again for someone to come
to the aid of the lady, and presently someone called up the stairs to
know what the trouble was.

[Illustration: I was wild with remorse and grief.]

"Come and see," I cried. "The lady has fainted, and she may be dead."

I went into the room again, and, taking Jane Ryder in my arms, carried
her into the next room and laid her on the bed. There was a pitcher of
water handy, and I sprinkled her face and began to chafe her cold
hands. After what seemed an age, the landlord came cautiously along the
hall. "Call the woman," I commanded; "call the woman, and tell her to
come in a hurry."

This he did, and then peeped in the room, taking care not to come
inside the door. "What is the matter?" he said uneasily.

"Can't you see that the lady is ill?" I answered.

The woman--two women, indeed--came running in response to his summons.
"Go in there and see what the trouble is. See if he has killed her. I
told her he was dangerous. You shall pay for this," he said, shaking a
threatening hand at me, though he came no farther than the door. "You
think she has no friends and that you may use her as you please. But I
tell you she has friends, and you will have to answer to them."

"Why talk like a fool?" said the elder of the two women--the woman with
whom I had talked in the inner room of the tavern. "You know as well as
I do that this man has not hurt her. If it were some other man I'd
believe you. She has only fainted."

"But fainting is something new to her. He has hurt her, and he shall
pay for it," the man insisted.

"And I tell you," the woman repeated, "that he has not harmed a hair of
her head. If he had do you think I'd be standing here denying it? Don't
you know what I'd be doing?"

"If I am wrong I am quite ready to apologize. I was excited--was beside
myself."

"I want none of your apologies," I said to the man. "I have a crow to
pick with you, and I'll furni