"I"m going to call in our friends," he said. "I think we shall need them."
XVIII
THE LONE HOUSE BY THE BAY
When Croyden and Macloud left the Carrington residence that evening, after their call and tea, Elaine and Davila remained for a little while in the drawing-room rehearsing the events of the day, as women will.
Presently, Davila went over to draw the shades.
"What do you say to a walk before we dress for dinner?" she inquired.
"I should like it, immensely," Elaine answered.
They went upstairs, changed quickly to street attire, and set out.
"We will go down to the centre of the town and back," said Davila.
"It"s about half a mile each way, and there isn"t any danger, so long as you keep in the town. I shouldn"t venture beyond it unescorted, however, even in daylight."
"Why?" asked Elaine. "Isn"t Hampton orderly?"
"Hampton is orderly enough. It"s the curse that hangs over the South since the Civil War: the negro."
"Oh! I understand," said Elaine, shuddering.
"I don"t mean that all black men are bad, for they are not. Many are entirely trustworthy, but the trustworthy ones are much, very much, in the minority. The vast majority are worthless--and a worthless n.i.g.g.e.r is the worst thing on earth."
"I think I prefer only the lighted streets," Elaine remarked.
"And you will be perfectly safe there," Davila replied.
They swung briskly along to the centre of the town--where the two main thoroughfares, King and Queen Streets, met each other in a wide circle that, after the fashion of Southern towns, was known, incongruously enough, as "The Diamond." Pa.s.sing around this circle, they retraced their steps toward home.
As they neared Ashburton, an automobile with the top up and side curtains on shot up behind them, hesitated a moment, as though uncertain of its destination and then drew up before the Carrington place. Two men alighted, gave an order to the driver, and went across the pavement to the gate, while the engine throbbed, softly.
Then they seemed to notice the women approaching, and stepping back from the gate, they waited.
"I beg your pardon!" said one, raising his hat and bowing, "can you tell me if this is where Captain Carrington lives?"
"It is," answered Davila.
"Thank you!" said the man, standing aside to let them pa.s.s.
"I am Miss Carrington--whom do you wish to see?"
"Captain Carrington, is he at home?"
"I do not know--if you will come in, I"ll inquire."
"You"re very kind!" with another bow.
He sprang forward and opened the gate. Davila thanked him with a smile, and she and Elaine went in, leaving the strangers to follow.
The next instant, each girl was struggling in the folds of a shawl, which had been flung over her from behind and wrapped securely around her head and arms, smothering her cries to a mere whisper. In a trice, despite their struggles--which, with heads covered and arms held close to their sides, were utterly unavailing--they were caught up, tossed into the tonneau, and the car shot swiftly away.
In a moment, it was clear of the town, the driver "opened her up," and they sped through the country at thirty miles an hour.
"Better give them some air," said the leader. "It doesn"t matter how much they yell here."
He had been holding Elaine on his lap, his arms keeping the shawl tight around her. Now he loosed her, and unwound the folds.
"You will please pardon the liberty we have taken," he said, as he freed her, "but there are----"
Crack!
Elaine had struck him straight in the face with all her strength, and, springing free, was on the point of leaping out, when he seized her and forced her back, caught her arms in the shawl, which was still around her, and bound them tight to her side.
"Better be a little careful, Bill!" he said. "I got an upper cut on the jaw that made me see stars."
"I"ve been very easy with mine," his companion returned. "She"ll not hand me one." However, he took care not to loosen the shawl from her arms. "There you are, my lady, I hope you"ve not been greatly inconvenienced."
"What do you mean by this outrage?" said Davila.
"Don"t forget, Bill!--mum"s the word!" the chief cautioned.
"At least, you can permit us to sit on the floor of the car," said Elaine. "Whatever may be your scheme, it"s scarcely necessary to hold us in this disgusting position."
"Will you make no effort to escape?" the chief asked.
"No!"
"I reckon that is a trifle overstated!" he laughed. "What about you, Miss Carrington?"
Davila did not answer--contenting herself with a look, which was far more expressive than words.
"Well, we will take pleasure in honoring your first request, Miss Cavendish."
He caught up a piece of rope, pa.s.sed it around her arms, outside the shawl, tied it in a running knot, and quietly lifted her from his lap to the floor.
"I trust that is satisfactory?" he asked.
"By comparison, eminently so."
"Thank you!" he said. "Do you, Miss Carrington, wish to sit beside your friend?"
"If you please!" said Davila, with supreme contempt.