CHAPTER XXI. THE VAT. Des.—Talk you of killing? Oth.-Ay, I de Des.-Then heaven

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 157, 19 June 1886, Page 3

CHAPTER XXI. THE VAT. Des.—Talk you of killing? Oth.-Ay, Ide Des. -Then heaven

litvc me icy on ran .—Othello. I <jn\ uihu with sh<imc, for I felt my hoart Mnk. But there wag no pause inthesmootn siic^ic tones behind mo, ' f> When a man persists in judging of his duty contrary to the dictates of reason, he must expect refrom ihoso "who understand his position better than ho doc? himself." " Thon," quoth I, with sudden acquired strength, " I am to understand that tho roppectahlo family of Pollard finds itsolf willing to rcsoct to tho means and methods of highwaymen in order to compass its onds and teach tr.o my duty." '' You are," a determined v O ico returned. At thot word, uttered as it was in a tone inoxoiable as fate, my last ray of hope went out, The voice was that of a woman. f, however, made a strong effort; for the piocivaiion of my dignity and person. "And v. ill Samuel Pollard's oldest and be&t-beloved son, the kind-hearted and honest Dwight, lend hhn?elf to a scheme of common frvtud and violence ?'' I asked. The reply en-mo in his brother's mosb sarcastic tones. " D wight has left v?," he declared. "We have no need of honesty or kindheartedncas hero. What wo want for this business is an immovable determination," Startled, I looked up. The lantern which had hitherto swung from the hand of my guide stood on the floor. By its light three things were visible Fhst, that we stood at the head of a staircase descending into a depth cf darkness which the eye could not pierce ; secondly, that in all the area about me but two persons stood, and thiid, that of ihe=e two persons one of them wag masked and clad in a, long black garment, such as is worn at masquerade balls under tho name of a domino. Stiuck with an icy chill, I looked down again. Why had I allowed myself to be caught in such a trap? Why had I not followed Mr ISficholls immediately to Boston when I heard that he was no longer in town? Or, better still, why bad I not manufactured foi myself a safegnaid in tho form of a letter to that gentleman, informing him of the important document v-hich I held, and the danger in which it p.^fibly aiood from tho family into whoso toils I had now fallen ? I could havo cursed myeelt for my dereliction. "David Barrows," came in imperative tones from the masked figure, " will you tell us whore the will is?" *'No," I returned. " It is not, on your person?" the inquisitcsial voico pursued "It isnot," I answered, firmly, thankful that I spoke the truth in this. " It is in your rooms, then ; in your def'k, perhaps ?" I remained silent, "It i= in your rooms?" the indomitable woman proceeded. " You who have beon there should know," I replied, feeling my courage rise, as I considered that they could not assail my honour, while my life without my socret would benefit them so little that it might be said to stand in no danger. " I do not understand you," tho icy voice declared ; while Guy, stepping forward, planted his hand firmly on my shoulder and said : " Wherever it is, it shall be delivered to our keeping to-night. We are in no mood for dallying. Either you will pr'vc urn your solemn promise to obtain the wi I, and hand it over to us without delay and without scandal, or the free light of heaven is shut out from you lor ever. You shall never leave this mill." "But" I faltered, striving in vain to throw off the incubus of horror which his words invoked, " what good would my death do you ? Could it put Mr Pollard's will in your bands ?" " Yes," was the brief and decided reply, " if it is anywhere in your roomq." It was a word that struck home. The will was in my rooms, and I already caw ifc, in my imagination, torn from its hiding-place by the unscrupulous hand that held me. Mastering my emotion with what spirit I could, I looked quickly about me. Was there no means of escape ? I saw none. In the remote and solitary place which they had chosen for this desperato attempt, a ory would be but waste of breath, even if they we-0 in the part of the mill which looked toward the road. But we were not j on the

contrary, I could see by iho aid of the faint glimmer which the lanteru pent forth that the room in which we had halted was as far as possible from the front of the building, for its windows were obscured by the brushwood which only grew against the back of the mill. To call out, then, would be folly, while to seek by any force or strategy to break away from tho two relentless beings that controlled me could only end in failure, unless darkness would come to my aid and bido my load of escape. But darkness could only come by the extinguishing of the lantern, and that it was impossible for me to effect ; for I was not strong enough to struggle in its direction with Guy Pollard, nor could I reach it by any stretched fool; or hand. The light must burn and I must stay there, unless— tho thought came suddenly— l could take advantage of the flight of eteps at the head of which 1 stood, and by a sudden loap, gain tho collar, whore- 1 would stand a good chance of losing myself amid intricacies as lit tie known to them as myself. But to do this 1 must be freo to movo, and there was no shaking myself loose from the iron clutch lhat held me. " You soo you are in our powor," hissed tho voice of tho woman from botwoon the motionloss lips of her black mask. "I see I am," 1 acknowledged, "but I also see that you are in that oi God." And 1 looked severely towards hor, only to drop my eyes again with an irrepressible shudder. For, lay to it, my weaknoss or to the shametul influence which emanated from the whole ghostly place, therowassomothing absolutely appalling in this draped and masked figure with its gloaming eyes and cold, thin voice. " Shall wo havo what wo want before your death or after ?" proceeded Guy Pollard, with a calm but cold ignoring of my worda that wad worse than any rudeness. I did not answer at first, and hia giip upon me tightened ; but next moment, from what motive- 1 cannot say, it somowhat relaxed ; and, 6tartled with the hopnof free dom, I exclaimed with a vehomence toy which my formor speech must have little prepared them : " You shall noc havo it at all. Ic. ot break my word u ith your fathor, and 1 ill not stay here to be threatened and killed ;" and making a sudden movemont, slipped from his grasp, and Dlungod down tho stops into the darkness below. But, scarcely had my foot touched the celku door, before I heard tho warning cry 3hril3 out f fom above : " Takecaro ' Thero Isan open vatbeforo you If you fall into that wo shall bo freo of your interference without lifting a hand An open vat ' I had heard of the vats in tho old mill's cellar. Instinctively recoiling, I stood still, not knowing whether to advance or retreat. At the same moment I hcaid the sound of stops descending the stairs. " So you think ibis a bettor placo for decision than tho floor above?" exclaimed Guy Pollard, drawing up by my side. " Woll, I am no', euro but you are light," lio added ; and I saw by tho light of the lantorn which his companion now brought down tho stairs, tho cold glimmer of a smilo cross hi°, thin lips and shine for a moment from his implacable eyes. Not knowing what he moant, I glanced anxiously about, and shrank with dismay as I discerned the black hole of iho vat he had mentioned, yawning within three fool of my side. Was it a dream, my presence in this fearful spot? I looked at the long stretch of arches before me glooming away into the darkness beyond us, and felt the chill of a nameless horror settle upon my spirit. Was it because I knew those circles of blackness held many another such pit of doom as that into which I had so nearly stumbled? Or was it that tho grisly aspect of the scene woke withiu me that slumbering demon of the imagination which is the bane cf natures like >me? Whatever it wa?, I felt the full force of my position, and scarcely caied whether my voice trembled or not as I replied *. - - " You surely have mo in your hands : bub that does not mean that it is I who must make a decision, If I undorstand tho situation, ifc 13 for you to say whether you will be muderers or not." "No," I murmured, and bowed my head for the blow I expected from him. But ho dealt me no blow. Instead of that he eyed me with a look which grew more and more sinister as I met his glance with ono which I meant should convey my inrtornitablo resolution, At last ho spoko again :—: — "I think you will reconsider your determination," said he, with a meaning J did not even then fathom, and exchanging a quick glance with the silent figuro at his right, ho leaned towards nao and—what happened? For a moment I could not tell, but aoon, only too soon, I recognised by my stunned and bleeding body, by the closeness of the air I suddenly breathed, and by the circle of darkness that phu< about me, and tho still moro distinct circlo of light, that I had been pushed into the pit whoso yawning mouth had but a few nhort moments before awakened in me such dismay Aghast, almost mad with tho horror of a fate so much mono terrible than any I had anticipated, I strove to utter a cry ; but my tongue refused its office, and nothing but an inarticulate murmur rose from ny lip?. It was not piercing enough to clear tho edge of the vat, and my soul sank with despair as I heaid its fruitley^ gurgle and realised by tho sound of departing steps, and the faint and fainter glimmer of the circlo of light which at my first glance had shone quite brightly above my hideous prison-houae, that my persecutors had done their worst, and wore now leaving me alone in my trap to perish. God ! what an instant it wds ! To speak, to shriek, to call, nay plead for aid, was but the natural outcome of the oven-helm-ing anguish 1 felt, but the sound of steps had died out into an awful stillne-s, and tho glimmering circlo upon which my staring eyes were fixed had faded mi o a darkness so utter and complete tlvxt, had the earth been piled above my head, 1 could not have been more wholly bidden from the light. J had fallon on my knoep, and, desperate as 1 wasj had made no attempt to rise. Not thjt I thought of prayer, unless my whole dazed and horrified being was prayer The consolations which I had offered to others did not seem to meet this caeo. Here was no death in tho presence of friendß and under i ho free light of heaven. This was a horror. Tho hand of God, which could reach overy other mortal, whatever their danger or doom, seemed to stop short at this gato of hell. I could not even imagine my soul escaping thence. I was buried ; body and soul I was buriod, and yet I wns alive, and knew that I must remain alivo for days if not for weeks. I do not suppose that I remained in this frightful condition or absolute hopelessness for more than five minutes, but it aeemed to me an etornity. If a drowning man can review his life in an instant, what was there not left for me to think and puffer in the lapse of those horrible five minutes ? I was young when the unscrupulous hand of this daring murderor pushed me into this pit ; I was old whon a thrill of joy such as passes over the body but once in a lifetime, I heard a voice issue from the darkness,

saying severely, "JDavid Barrows, are you prepared for a decision now ?' J and realized that liko the light which now sprang into full brillance above my head, hope had come again into my life, and that I had to speak but a dozen words to have sunshine and liberty restored to me. Tho rush of emotion which this startling change wrought was almost too much for my reason. Looking up into the sardonic face I could now discern peering ovor the edge of the vat, 1 asked with a frantic impulae that left me no time for thought.if an immediato restoration to freedom would follow my compliance with his wishes, and when he answered : " Yea," I beheld such a vision of sunshiny fields and a happy, lovelighted home, that my voice almost choked as I responded that I did not think his father would have wished me to sacrifice my life, or force a son ot his into crime of murder, for the sake of any reparation which money could oiler. And as I saw the faco above me grow impatient, I told in desperate haste where I had concealed the will and how it could be obtained without arousing the suspicions of my neighbours. He seemed satisfied and hastily withdrew his faco ; but soon returned and asked for tho key of my house. I had it in my pocket and hurriedly pitched it up to him, whon he again disappeared. " When shall I ba released ?'" I anxiously called out aftor him. But no answer came back, and presently the light began to fade as before and tho Hound of steps grow fainter and fainter till silence and darkness again settled upon my dreadful prison house. But this time I had hope to brighten me, and shutting my eyes, I waited patiently. But at last, as no chango came and the silonco and darkness remained unbroken, I became violently alarmed and cried to myself : "Am I the victim of their treachery ? Have- thoy obtained what they -want and now am I to be loft hore to perish ?" The thought made my hair stand on end, pnd had I not been a God-fearing man I should certainly have raised my voice in curses upon my credulity and lack of courage. But before my passion could roach its height, hope shone again in the shapo of returning light. Some ono had entered the cellar and drawn near Iho edge of tho vat; but though I strained my goze upward, no face met my view, and presently I heard a voice which was not that of Guy Pollaid utter in tones of surprise and approhension : " Whero is the clergyman ? Guy said I should find him here in a good condition." Tho masked figure, who was doubtless ihe one addressed, must have- answered with •i gesture towards the hole in which I lay, for I heard him give vent to a horrid exclamation and then say in accents of regret and shame : " Was it necessary ?" and afterwards: "Are you sure ho X 3 not injured ?" The answer, which I did not hear, seemed to satisfy him, for ho paid no more, and f-oon, too soon, walked away again, carrying tho light and leaving me, as I now knew" with that ominous black figure for my watch and guardian,— a horror that lent a double darkness to the situation, which was only relieved now by the thought that D wight Pollard's humanity was to^be relied on, and that he would never wantonly leave mo there to perish after the will had been discovered and dostroyed. It was well that I had this confidence, for the time I now had to wait was long. But I lived it through, and at last had the joy of hearing footsteps, and the voice of Guy saying in a dry and satisfied tone : "It is all right," after which tho face of Dwight looked over the edge ot the vat and he gave mo tho help which was needed to lift me out. I was a free man again. I had slipped from the gates of hell, and the world with all its joys and duties lay before me, bright and beautiful as love and hope could make it. Yet whether it was the gloom of the collar in which we still lingered, or the baleful influence that emanated from the three persons in whoso presence I once more stood, I felt a strange sinking at my heart, and found myself looking back at> tho pit from which I had just oscaped, with a sensation of remorse, as if in its horrid depths I had left or lest something which must create a void within me for ever. My meditations in this regard were interrupted by the voice of Guy. " David Barrows," said ho, "wo hold the paper which was gjven you by my father," I bowed with a slight intimation of impatience. " Wo have looked at it and it is, as he said, his will. But it is not such a one as we feared, and to-morrow, as soon as we can restore the seal, we shall return it to you for such disposition as your judgment suggests." I stared at him in an amazement that made ma forget my shame. " You will give it back ?" I repeated. " To-morrow," he laconically replied.