"Fright. And I'm wondering whether merely being lost in the woods is enough to have terrified a girl like that? Because, apparently, she is as superb a specimen of healthy womanhood as this world manufactures once in a hundred years. How well do you know her?" "We are very close friends." "H'm. Did you suppose she was the kind of woman to be frightened at merely being lost in a civilised country?" "No. She has more courage--of all kinds--than most women." "Because," said the big doctor thoughtfully, "while she was unconscious it took me ten minutes to pry open her fingers and disengage a rather heavy dog-whip from her clutch.... And there was some evidences of blood on the lash and on the bone handle." "What!" exclaimed Neville, amazed. The doctor shrugged: "I don't know of any fierce and vicious dogs between here and Estwich, either," he mused. "No, Cardemon keeps none. And its mostly his estate." "Oh ... Any--h'm!--vicious _men_--in his employment?" "My God!" whispered Neville, "what do you mean, Billy?" "Finger imprints--black and blue--on both arms. Didn't Miss West say anything that might enlighten _you_?" "No ... She only said she had been lost.... Wait a moment; I'm trying to think of the men Cardemon employs--" He was ashy white and trembling, and the doctor laid a steadying hand on his arm. "Hold on, Louis," he said sharply, "it was no _worse_ than a fright. _Do you understand_?... And do you understand, too, that an innocent and sensitive and modest girl would rather die than have such a thing made public through your well-meant activity? So there's nothing for anybody to do--yet." Neville could scarcely speak. "Do you mean--she was attacked by some--man!" "It looks like it. And--you'd better keep it from your family--because _she_ did. She's game to the core--that little girl." "But she--she'll tell me!" stammered Neville--she's _got_ to tell me--" "She won't if she can help it. Would it aid her any if you found out who it was and killed him?--ran for a gun and did a little murdering some pleasant morning--just to show your chivalrous consideration and devotion to her?" "Are you asking me to let a beast like that go unpunished?" demanded Neville violently. "Oh, use your brains, Louis. He frightened her and she slashed him well for it. And, womanlike--after there was no more danger and no more necessity for pluck--she got scared and ran; and the farther she ran the more scared she became. Look here, Louis; look at me--squarely." He laid both ponderous hands on Neville's shoulders: