www.freeclassicebooks.com

CHAPTER XI. THE VILLAGE OF YOKA

FOR several minutes Barbara Harding lay where she had collapsed after the keen

short sword of the daimio had freed her from the menace of his lust.

She was in a half-stupor that took cognizance only of a freezing terror and

exhaustion. Presently, however, she became aware of her contact with the corpse

beside her, and with a stifled cry she shrank away from it.

Slowly the girl regained her self-control and with it came the realization of the

extremity of her danger. She rose to a sitting posture and turned her wide eyes

toward the doorway to the adjoining room--the women and children seemed yet

wrapped in slumber. It was evident that the man's scream had not disturbed

them.

Barbara gained her feet and moved softly to the doorway. She wondered if she

could cross the intervening space to the outer exit without detection. Once in the

open she could flee to the jungle, and then there was a chance at least that she

might find her way to the coast and Theriere.

She gripped the short sword which she still held, and took a step into the larger

room. One of the women turned and half roused from sleep. The girl shrank back

into the darkness of the chamber she had just quitted. The woman sat up and

looked around. Then she rose and threw some sticks upon the fire that burned at

one side of the dwelling. She crossed to a shelf and took down a cooking utensil.

Barbara saw that she was about to commence the preparation of breakfast.

All hope of escape was thus ended, and the girl cautiously closed the door

between the two rooms. Then she felt about the smaller apartment for some

heavy object with which to barricade herself; but her search was fruitless. Finally

she bethought herself of the corpse. That would hold the door against the

accident of a child or dog pushing it open--it would be better than nothing, but

could she bring herself to touch the loathsome thing?

The instinct of self-preservation will work wonders even with a frail and delicate

woman. Barbara Harding steeled herself to the task, and after several moments of

effort she succeeded in rolling the dead man against the door. The scraping

sound of the body as she dragged it into position had sent cold shivers running

up her spine.

She had removed the man's long sword and armor before attempting to move

him, and now she crouched beside the corpse with both the swords beside her--

she would sell her life dearly. Theriere's words came back to her now as they had

The Mucker