"It air the one her pa used on Boy," he muttered. "I stole it from 'is stable." Tessibel uttered a cry and dropped the whip. The terrible scene in the lane, invoked by the speaker's words and the sight of the whip, poured into her mind a new flood of hate. Yes! Elsie should be treated as her father had treated Boy! She stooped and picked up the whip. The men leaned forward, watching intently. Their heavy breathing and Ma Brewer's sobs mingled with the ticking of the clock and the storm's racket against the hut sides. She studied the whip and tested its hissing pliability. That tip had stung Boy beyond endurance. The length of it had put him in his grave. Waldstricker's hands had tortured her son. She would make his daughter pay the reckoning. She drew a deep breath and raised her arm. Elsie had crept unnoticed to her side, and as Tess glanced down, the child touched her hand with little fingers, marble-cold. The girl drew away from the suppliant touch, then, lowered the whip and stood considering the baby face. "I hate you worse'n anyone in the whole world," she spat out. "Then, lick 'er," growled Longman, and the other squatters muttered their approval. Elsie dropped her head against Tessibel, and clung to her skirt. "I want my--mover," she burst out, crying. "Get even with Waldstricker, brat," said another voice. Tess raised her arm and glancing along the uplifted whip, again, she looked into Boy's eyes, and, as she gazed, the little face in the rafters receded, grew dimmer. She dropped the whip, and unmindful of the squatters, lifted her hands. "Mummy's baby boy!" she called. The happy eyes faded last from her sight and it seemed to her they summoned her thence. A moment more, she stood shivering, staring into the shadows, and, then, she turned upon the dark-browed men. "You said I could do anything I wanted to with 'er, eh?" "Yep," Brewer assented. "Beat 'er, kill 'er, the more the better for us-uns." "Then give me a blanket to wrap her in. I'll take her home where--where--Boy--died." Brewer's lips fell apart and he laughed evilly. "Good idee, brat," he said. "Ye can make it a thousand times worser for the kid if ye do.... Get a blanket, Ma." Carefully, the girl wrapped the blanket around and around the little one. Elsie whimpered disconsolately but made no objection. Anything was better than being left with the men who tied her up. Lifting the bulky bundle, Tess started for the door, Jake picked up the whip from the floor, handed it to her. "Ye're forgettin' somethin' ain't ye, brat? Ye'll be wantin' this, I'm thinkin'," he chuckled. "I can't ever thank you all enough," she flung back hoarsely, tucking the whip into her coat pocket, "for giving me this chance at Waldstricker." Longman got up and opened the door and Tess stepped out into the storm, carrying Waldstricker's daughter. * * * * *