"I have first cast a stone at her," cried Waldstricker, above the din. "Let others follow if they dare!" Tessibel crouched lower to the floor, a bleeding wound in her neck. She had made no outcry when the missile met and lacerated her flesh. Dully, she wondered if they intended to kill her, and for a moment a sickening dread took possession of her when she thought of Daddy and Andy. She was growing faint and dizzy, but struggled to her feet as Griggs took her arm. He led her through the Chapel aisle, pushing aside the other men. At the door, Tess caught one glimpse of Sandy Letts' dark, passionate face. "Go home," the minister said hoarsely; "and may God forgive us all." * * * * * How Tessibel found her way home, she could never afterwards tell. Spent by the struggle with the storm, she staggered into the shanty. It took almost the last atom of her strength to close the door against the howling blizzard. Leaning against the wall, she looked up and saw Andy staring at her from the hole in ceiling, his fingers on his lips. "It were awful cold under the bed," he told her. "Yer Daddy air asleep, so I came up here to keep warm!" When he noticed the girl's unusual appearance, he scurried down the ladder, waddled across the kitchen, and stood in front of his friend. "What air the matter, brat?" he quivered. Solicitous, he helped her into a chair near the fire and took off her hat and coat. The blood from the neck wound had made crimson blotches on her white waist. "Ye're hurt, honey," he cried, alarmed. "How'd it happen?" "I air hurt a little," said she, faintly. "Fetch me some water, dear, an' don't--don't tell Daddy!" "Get on the cot, kid," said he, "an' I'll put up the bar." In another moment he was leaning over her. He brushed back the tousled hair from the girl's forehead, and pulled away the long curls seeped with blood. "I air yer friend, brat," he whispered. "Tell me 'bout it." Tessibel had to confide in somebody. "I'll get a rag first an' wipe ye off," said the dwarf. "My, but ye did get a cut, didn't ye?... What did it?" Gently he began to wash away the crimson stain from her face and neck. "Somebody hit ye?" he demanded presently. "Yep." "Who?... Who dared do it?" The dwarf's face darkened with rage. "Where were the brute that done it?" "Andy," sobbed Tess, "I air goin' to tell ye somethin'; ye may think I air awful wicked, but--but--Andy, don't tell Daddy, but in the spring I air goin' to--" "Yep, I know, Tess," he murmured. "I heard the woman yellin' at ye the uther day way through my blankets. But 'tain't nothin' to cry over. God'll bless ye, brat, and God'll bless--it!" Her sobbing slowly subsided, and in halting words Tess told the dwarf the story of the afternoon's dreadful experience.