one, with the engine of death in her hand. The officer bows,
smiles, reaches the book with his left hand, lays his cap on the table,
and lifts his right hand in the air. Her little fingers reach out
firmly, fearlessly, and rest on the book. Her eyes are looking straight
into his.

"It may be my duty, Miss, to search the house, after what that 'un has
said, and, Miss, I expect it is my duty. But, Miss, I is not the man to
expose you before a man as might like to see you exposed. And then that
poor devil that come back here, Miss, on bleeding feet--crawling back
here on his hands and knees, to die by his mother's grave."

The voice is tremulous; the hand that is raised in the air comes down.
Then lifting it again he says resolutely, "Swear, Miss!"

All are looking--leaning--with the profoundest interest. There is a dark
strange face peering through a rift in the half-opened curtain. "God
bless her! God bless her! She can, and she will!" mutters Forty-nine.

"She can't!" cries Dosson. "She believes the book and, by gol, she
can't!" The man says this over his shoulder, and in a husky whisper as
the girl seems to pause.

"Hold your hand on the book, and swear as I shall tell you," says the
sheriff.

She only holds more firmly to the book; her eyes are fixed more steadily
on his.

"Say it as I say it. I do solemnly swear--"

"I do solemnly swear--"

"That John Logan--"

"That John Logan--"

"Is not here."

"Is--"

"Is _here_!" The curtain is thrown back, and the fugitive dashes into
their midst. The book falls from the sheriff's hand, and there is a
murmur of amazement.

"God bless you, my girl!" And there is the stillness of a Sabbath
morning over all. "God bless you; and God will reward you for this, for
I cannot. You have made me another being, Carrie. I have lost my life,
but you have saved my soul!" and turning cheerfully to the sheriff he
reaches his hands. "Now, sir, I am ready."

CHAPTER VI.

THE ESCAPE.

_O tranquil moon! O pitying moon!
Put forth thy cool, protecting palms,
And cool their eyes with cooling alms,
Against the burning tears of noon._

_O saintly, noiseless-footed nun!
O sad-browed patient mother, keep
Thy homeless children while they sleep,
And kiss them, weeping, every one._

At first there was a loud demonstration against Logan by the mob, that
always gathers about where a man is captured by his fellows--the wolves
that com