Jewel Weed - Page 163/181

He snarled suddenly, and Lena jumped back as though a tiger had sprung

at her throat.

The face disappeared among the leaves, and Lena sped toward the house,

hastened by a crash of thunder and a few great drops, that seemed to her

frightened imagination like the servants of the savage creature that

she had left in the tree-tops. She slipped out again, in spite of wind

and rain, obedient to his command, and as she dropped her bundle at the

foot of the tree trunk, she whispered, "I hope, oh, I hope that you will get away!" But she heard no reply. The

storm came down and the night fell, seamed with lightning.

Lena quietly ate her dinner, and listened to the well-bred calm voice of

her mother-in-law as she wondered what Dick was doing, and when he would

be at home again. But Lena wondered what Ram Juna was doing, and whether

she should ever see him again.