For the time being at least his mind was too inflamed with rage
over her daring in thwarting his will, to admit the consideration of
any other problem. He would be too obsessed with thought for
gratifying his revengeful lust to trouble about Payne's land.

Roger related briefly the fact of Garman's visit, omitting mention of
Annette.

"Then he'll be coming back to clean us up, you think?" asked Higgins
hopefully.

"I think so--I've got good reasons for believing so," replied Roger.
"He won't come alone, but with a gang big enough to make sure of the
job. Blease, this isn't your scrap at all, and I suspect it's going to
be a real one. The ox trail is open and the mules can travel it, so
you'd better take a span of them and drive your family out of danger."

Blease deliberated.

"Reckon I won't," he said at last. "Family's safe in there in the
elder bush. I'll stay. Mebbe get a chance to even up with Garman."

Roger selected a high spoil bank near the center of the muck land as
his post. From there he could see any one who approached from the
river or from the cypress swamp. Blease took up a hidden position in
the elderberry jungle, from which he could cover the open prairie
toward Garman's, and Higgins secreted himself in the palmetto scrub of
Flower Prairie. Higgins awaited the expected onslaught merrily; Blease
was hopeful of revenge; and Roger, as he lay with his rifle ready,
smiled because Annette was out of Garman's power. Wherever she was, he
felt she was safe. He pictured her as she had faced Garman fearlessly
two nights before--straight, strong, self-reliant--and was confident
that her absence was of her own doing, and that whatever the
circumstances she was free of the influence of her aunt, of her father,
of the drugging magnetism of Garman, and in control of her own destiny.

As the hours dragged by and he broiled beneath the merciless sun with
no sign of a move on Garman's part, his confidence waned. Had Garman
discovered that Annette was not at Payne's camp? Had he discovered her
whereabouts?

Roger recalled the signs of an unpremeditated flight on the part of
Garman's guards, and his heart sank. Was it possible that their flight
had some connection with Annette's disappearance? They were all
desperate men, the most vicious Of criminals, who had fled to safety in
the cypress swamps because their savagery unfitted them for existence
in a civilized environment. Inflamed by moonshine