Patricia Wentworth

“ It might be a trick of the light, or it might be fancy, but something in the listening, waiting attitude, and the half-smile which showed the man’s white teeth, brought a rush of panic terror to Elizabeth’s brain, and, dropping the chick, she ran down the verandah steps, across the garden where the rising dew struck damp upon her ankles, and, panting, pushed her way into the heart of the oleanders, whose spikes of crimson flowers stood stiff above her head, like serried, blood-tipped spears. ”

“ The crackle and roar of the burning Mess, further off in the bazaar the shouts of men half drunk with murder and strong drink, and, like a continuous undercurrent, a monotonous unceasing drumming of tom-toms. The native servants had all fled in terror, and the house and compound were quite deserted. Elizabeth wondered if she would have to wait all night before someone came and killed her. ”

“ He turned a little further and lay gasping in the dust. Then, after a long minute, he rose upon his elbows, stretched out his right hand, let his weight rest on it, and dragged his racked limbs a bare half-yard from where the dust was darkened by his blood.
When the will drives the impossible is done. It has driven men through every torment man could devise or the devil inspire. It has conquered the kingdoms of the earth, and even the kingdom of Heaven has suffered its violence. ”

“ Elizabeth got up and stood listening, but her heart beat so that the other sounds seemed very far away, and what she heard most clearly was the flutter and the rush of a cloud of startled birds, who rose screaming into the twilight and looked like black, swarming bees. ”

“ In a throat as dry as a wounded man’s, her breath soon failed, and her eyes dimmed like the eyes of the dying. Death seemed, indeed, to lurk between each laboured heart-beat and the next, and all the time she ran as, once started, those who are pursued must run until the end. ”

“ There was no moon, but above her in the darkened sky one burning star shook like a shaken brand. She was outside the tomb, though how she came there she did not know, and never would remember. Night voices of wild creatures came to her bewildered ears, the trees stood round her densely black, with outstretched arms that rustled in the breeze, and as they moved the shadows seemed to deepen and darken into gloom unfathomable. ”

“ When it had steadied a little, one thought stood out with all his will behind it: he must get to her, alive or dead he must get to her; and since the body is the mind’s servant it must be forced into obedience. ”

“ Owing to the regrettable feeling of panic which has invaded the community since the news from Meerut and Delhi became known, the ladies and children left here this morning under escort for Cawnpore, where they will seek shelter with Sir Hugh Wheeler. My own advice was in direct opposition to this course being taken. When I inform you that my marriage to Miss Ryan took place to-day, and that by my express desire she has remained at Golpore, you will, I hope, be persuaded that my reliance upon the loyalty of my regiment is absolute. And loyalty should be met by trust. ”