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better。〃
〃I have it not。〃
〃Then I will do worse than murder you。 I will make you such an
object that all the world shall loathe to look on you。〃 And so
saying he took her by the arm and dragged her forth from the wall
against which she had stood。
Then there came from her a shriek that was heard far down the shore
of that silent sea； and away across to the solitary houses of those
living on the other side；a shriek； very sad； sharp； and
prolonged；which told plainly to those who heard it of woman's woe
when in her extremest peril。 That sound was spoken of in Bermuda
for many a day after that； as something which had been terrible to
hear。 But then； at that moment； as it came wailing through the
dark； it sounded as though it were not human。 Of those who heard
it； not one guessed from whence it came； nor was the hand of any
brother put forward to help that woman at her need。
〃Did you hear that？〃 said the young wife to her husband； from the
far side of the arm of the sea。
〃Hear it！ Oh Heaven； yes！ Whence did it come？〃 The young wife
could not say from whence it came； but clung close to her husband's
breast； comforting herself with the knowledge that that terrible
sorrow was not hers。
But aid did come at last； or rather that which seemed as aid。 Long
and terrible was the fight between that human beast of prey and the
poor victim which had fallen into his talons。 Anastasia Bergen was
a strong； well…built woman； and now that the time had come to her
when a struggle was necessary； a struggle for life； for honour； for
the happiness of him who was more to her than herself； she fought
like a tigress attacked in her own lair。 At such a moment as this
she also could become wild and savage as the beast of the forest。
When he pinioned her arms with one of his； as he pressed her down
upon the floor； she caught the first joint of the forefinger of his
other hand between her teeth till he yelled in agony； and another
sound was heard across the silent water。 And then； when one hand
was loosed in the struggle； she twisted it through his long hair；
and dragged back his head till his eyes were nearly starting from
their sockets。 Anastasia Bergen had hitherto been a sheer woman；
all feminine in her nature。 But now the foam came to her mouth； and
fire sprang from her eyes； and the muscles of her body worked as
though she had been trained to deeds of violence。 Of violence；
Aaron Trow had known much in his rough life； but never had he
combated with harder antagonist than her whom he now held beneath
his breast。
〃ByI will put an end to you；〃 he exclaimed； in his wrath； as he
struck her violently across the face with his elbow。 His hand was
occupied； and he could not use it for a blow； but； nevertheless； the
violence was so great that the blood gushed from her nostrils； while
the back of her head was driven with violence against the floor。
But she did not lose her hold of him。 Her hand was still twined
closely through his thick hair； and in every move he made she clung
to him with all her might。 〃Leave go my hair；〃 he shouted at her；
but she still kept her hold； though he again dashed her head against
the floor。
There was still light in the room； for when he first grasped her
with both his hands； he had put the lamp down on a small table。 Now
they were rolling on the floor together； and twice he had essayed to
kneel on her that he might thus crush the breath from her body； and
deprive her altogether of her strength； but she had been too active
for him； moving herself along the ground； though in doing so she
dragged him with her。 But by degrees he got one hand at liberty；
and with that he pulled a clasp knife out of his pocket and opened
it。 〃I will cut your head off if you do not let go my hair；〃 he
said。 But still she held fast by him。 He then stabbed at her arm；
using his left hand and making short； ineffectual blows。 Her dress
partly saved her； and partly also the continual movement of all her
limbs； but； nevertheless； the knife wounded her。 It wounded her in
several places about the arm； covering them both with blood；but
still she hung on。 So close was her grasp in her agony； that； as
she afterwards found； she cut the skin of her own hands with her own
nails。 Had the man's hair been less thick or strong； or her own
tenacity less steadfast； he would have murdered her before any
interruption could have saved her。
And yet he had not purposed to murder her； or even； in the first
instance； to inflict on her any bodily harm。 But he had been
determined to get money。 With such a sum of money as he had named；
it might； he thought； be possible for him to win his way across to
America。 He might bribe men to hide him in the hold of a ship； and
thus there might be for him； at any rate； a possibility of escape。
That there must be money in the house he had still thought when
first he laid hands on the poor woman； and then； when the struggle
had once begun； when he had felt her muscles contending with his；
the passion of the beast was aroused within him； and he strove
against her as he would have striven against a dog。 But yet； when
the knife was in his hand； he had not driven it against her heart。
Then suddenly； while they were yet rolling on the floor； there was a
sound of footsteps in the passage。 Aaron Trow instantly leaped to
his feet； leaving his victim on the ground； with huge lumps of his
thick clotted hair in her hand。 Thus； and thus only； could he have
liberated himself from her grasp。 He rushed at the door； and there
he came against the two negro servant…girls who had returned down to
their kitchen from the road on which they had been straying。 Trow；
as he half saw them in the dark； not knowing how many there might
be； or whether there was a man among them； rushed through them；
upsetting one scared girl in his passage。 With the instinct and
with the timidity of a beast； his impulse now was to escape； and he
hurried away back to the road and to his lair； leaving the three
women together in the cottage。 Poor wretch！ As he crossed the
road； not skulking in his impotent haste； but running at his best；
another pair of eyes saw him； and when the search became hot after
him； it was known that his hiding…place was not distant。
It was some time before any of the women were able to act； and when
some step was taken； Anastasia was the first to take it。 She had
not absolutely swooned； but the reaction； after the violence of her
efforts； was so great； that for some minutes she had been unable to
speak。 She had risen from the floor when Trow left her； and had
even followed him to the door； but since that she had fallen back
into her father's old arm…chair； and there sat gasping not only for
words； but for breath also。
At last she bade one of the girls to run into St。 George； and beg
Mr。 Morton to come to her aid。 The girl would not stir without her
companion； and even then； Anastasia； covered as she was with blood；
with dishevelled hair； and her clothes half torn from her body；
accompanied them as far as the road。 There they found a negro lad
still hanging about the place； and he told them that he ha