Chapter 64

           "SoonthesoulofMauriceGeraldmustgobacktoitsGod!"

           Itwasthethoughtofeveryactorinthattragedyamongthetrees.Noonedoubtedthat,inanothermoment,theywouldseehisbodyhoistedintotheair,andswingingfromthebranchofthesycamore.

           Therewasaninterlude,notprovidedforintheprogramme.Afarcewasbeingperformedsimultaneously;and,itmightbesaid,onthesamestage.Foroncethetragedywasmoreattractive,andthecomedywasprogressingwithoutspectators.

           Notthelessearnestweretheactorsinit.Therewereonlytwo—amanandamare.Phelimwasoncemorere-enactingthescenesthathadcausedsurprisetoIsidora.

           EngrossedbytheargumentsofCalhoun—bythepurposesofvengeancewhichhisstorywasproducing—theRegulatorsonlyturnedtheirattentiontothechiefcriminal.Noonethoughtofhiscompanion—whetherhewas,orwasnot,anaccomplice.Hispresencewasscarceperceived—alleyesbeingdirectedwithangryintentupontheother.

           Stilllesswasitnoticed,whentheruffianssprangforward,andcommencedadjustingtherope.TheGalwegianwasthenaltogetherneglected.

           Thereappearedanopportunityofescape,andPhelimwasnotslowtotakeadvantageofit.

           Wrigglinghimselfclearofhisfastenings,hecrawledoffamongthelegsofthesurgingcrowd.

           Nooneseemedtosee,orcareabout,hismovements.Madwithexcitement,theywerepressinguponeachother—theeyesofallturnedupwardtothegallowstree.