Page 319 - The snake's pass

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A GRIM WARNING. 307
" Dear me
! that is very strange—a cross of stones*
It would almost seem as if it were made here to mark
something ; but yet "—here he lifted one of the stones
— "it cannot have been long here; the grass is fresh under
the stones." Murdock said nothing, but clenched his
hands and ground his teeth. Presently, however, he
sent Moynahan back to his house to get some whiskey.
When the latter was out of earshot, Murdock turned
to us, and said :
" An' so ye think to baffle me ! do ye ? Well ! I'll
have that money out—if I have to wade in yer blood.
!
I will, by the livin' God " and he burst into a string
of profanities that made us shudder.
He was in such deadly earnest that I felt a pity for
him, and said impulsively :
" Look here it out, you can have
! if you want to get
a little more time if you like, if only you will conduct
yourself properly. I don't want to be bothered looking
for it. Now, if you'll only behave decently, and be some-
thing like a civilized being, I'll give you another month
"
if you want it !
Again he burst out at me with still more awful
profanities. He didn't want any of my time! He'd
take what time he liked! God Himself—and he par-
ticularized the persons of the Trinity — couldn't balk
him, and he'd do what he liked ; and if I crossed
his path it would be the worse for me ! And, as for
others, that he would send the hard word round the
country about me and my leman!—I couldn't be always