The sight of the suffering woman roused Claude to action; and as she took a couple of steps forward, and with the tears falling fast, laid her hand upon the woman's shoulder, a low murmur arose among the men, and Glyddyr saw that they drew back respectfully, several turning right away. "Sarah, my poor Sarah," said Claude, bending low. At the tender words of sympathy and the touch of the gentle hands, the woman let her own fall from her face, and stared up appealingly at the speaker. Claude involuntarily shrank away from the ghastly face, for the hands had printed hideous traces upon the woman's brow. The shrinking away was momentary, for, recovering herself. Claude drew her handkerchief from her pocket, to turn in surprise as it was drawn from her hand, but she directly gave Glyddyr a grateful look, as she saw him step to a rough granite trough into which a jet of pure water was pouring from the cliff, and saturating it quickly, he returned the handkerchief to its owner. But before the blood stains could be removed, the voice of the injured man was heard calling. "Sarah! Don't leave me, my girl. He has murdered me." The woman gave Claude a wild look, rose from her knees, and tottered back to the cottage as the voice of Gartram was heard in angry retort. "Its like talking to a madman, Ike Woodham," came clear and loud; "but you've got hurt by your own wilful obstinacy, and you want to throw the blame on me." As he spoke, Gartram strode out of the cottage, and then whispered to his child,-- "Come home, my dear. You can do no good." "No, no; not yet, papa," she whispered. "I must try if I can help poor Sarah in her terrible trouble." A low murmur arose from the little crowd, and this seemed to excite Gartram. "Well," he cried fiercely, "what does that mean? It was his own fault-- in direct opposition to my orders; and this is not the first accident through your own folly." The low, angry muttering continued. "Here, come away, Claude," cried Gartram fiercely, as he looked round at the lowering faces. "He has murdered me, I tell you!" came from the open cottage door. "Bah!" ejaculated Gartram angrily, and he strode away, but returned directly. "Are you coming, my girl?" "Yes, papa, soon. Let me see if I can be of use." "Look here, Mr Glyddyr," said Gartram, speaking in a low, excited voice, "I can't stop. I shall be saying things that will make them mad. See after Claude, and bring her home. The senseless idiots! If a man bruises himself with his own hammer, it is blamed on me." He strode away, and ignoring Glyddyr's presence, Claude was moving softly toward the door, when the man who had brought the message held out his hand to arrest her. "Don't go in, dear bairn," he said in a husky whisper; "it isn't for the likes of you to see." "Thank you, Wolfe," she said calmly, "I am not afraid."