"Well, take care of yourself," said Hicks, when the count was
complete. He thrust the roll of bills into his pocket and moved
to the door.
Alone again, the planter collapsed into his chair, breathing
heavily, but his terrors swept over him and left him with a
savage sense of triumph. This passed, he sprang up, intending to
recall Hicks and unmake his bargain. What had he been thinking
of--safety lay only in flight! Before he reached the door his
greed was in the ascendant. He dropped down on the edge of his
bed, his eyes fixed on the window. The sun sank lower. From
where he sat he saw it through the upper half of the sash,
blood-red and livid in a mist of fleecy clouds.
It was in the tops of the old oaks now, which sent their shadows
into his room. Again maddened by his terrors he started up and
backed toward the door; but again his greed, the one dominating
influence in his life, vanquished him.
He watched the sun sink. He watched the red splendor fade over
the river; he saw the first stars appear. He told himself that
Hicks would soon be gone--if the fire was not to be lighted he
must act at once! He stole to the window. It was dusk now, yet
he could distinguish the distant wooded boundaries of the great
fields framed by the darkening sky. Then in the silence he heard
the thud of hoofs.
CHAPTER XXXI
THE KEEL BOAT
"PRICE " began Mahaffy. They were back in Raleigh in the room
the judge called his office, and this was Mahaffy's first
opportunity to ease his mind on the subject of the duel, as they
had only just parted from Yancy and Cavendish, who had stopped at
one of the stores to make certain purchases for the raft.
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