“Pete,” I said, measuring my words, my plan of action shaping itself even as I spoke.  “What lies in there between us and the house?”

“A truck patch mostly, wid a fence ‘round it.  Den thar comes som’ flower beds.”

“No path?”

“Well, I done reckon as how thar might be a sorter path, sah, but you’d hardly find it in de dark.  De bes’ way’d be ter sorter feel ’long de fence, ’til yer git sight o’ de front porch.”

“All right, then.  I am going to leave you here while I scout around.  Keep your eyes open, and have the mule ready to leave at any minute.”

“‘Bout how lon’ yer be gone, sah?”

“I cannot tell you that.  As short a time as possible.  It may require considerable explanation and urging to get those three women to trust me.  However, all you have to do is wait, and be sure that no one sees you.  If you should be needed for anything at the house, I’ll get word to you some way; and if I should send Delia and Rene out here alone, without being able to come with them myself, load them into the cart at once, and drive to the boat.  I’ll manage to join you somewhere, and the important thing is to get them safely away.  You understand all this?”

“Yas, sah; leastways I reckon I does.  I’se ter take keer ob dem all, an’ let yer take keer o’ yerself.”

“Exactly, because, you see, I haven’t the slightest idea what I am going to run up against.  There may be others in the house, and I might not dare to leave Miss Eloise behind alone without some protection.  In a way she is in almost as much danger as the others if she falls into Kirby’s hands.  I shall endeavor to induce her to go to Haines at once.”

Following some impulse I shook hands with him, and then plunged into the darkness, my only guidance at first that single ray of light streaming through the unshaded window.  The ground underfoot was roughly irregular, cleared forest land evidently, as I occasionally stumbled over an unremoved stump, although there was nothing to seriously obstruct my passage until I reached the fence surrounding the garden.  By this time the outlines of the house were plainly visible against the skyline beyond, and I realized that it was indeed quite a mansion for that country, a great square frame structure, two full stories in height, appearing black and deserted, except for that single window through which the light continued to stream.  While this window was upon the lower floor, directly opposite where I stood, and no great distance away, it was still sufficiently elevated above the ground, and obscured by a small outside balcony, so as to afford me no glimpse within.  All I could distinguish clearly was the ceiling of what appeared to be a rather large apartment.