d destroyed though the gang had escaped.
Such loss was disastrous, for the new copper and worm and fermenters
meant a cost of a hundred dollars, a sum hard to come on in the
mountain coves. Usually, the outfit is packed on the men's backs to
hiding in the laurel, afterward shifted to another obscure nook by
running water. It was plain that Hodges had grown more than ever
venomous over the destruction of his still, and had no scruples as to
the means he would employ to prevent a repetition of such
catastrophe. No need now to fear lest sentinels be not alert. The
natural path to the still was along the course of the stream. The
unwary passer over the tiny stretch of greensward on which the girl
looked down, would follow the dim trail of footsteps, and so
inevitably come within the clutch of the great jaws, which would hurl
themselves together, rending and crunching the flesh between. The
victim's shrieks of anguish under the assault would be a warning to
the lawless men above. They would make ready and flee with their
possessions, and be lost in the laurel once again. Yes, the device was
simple, diabolically simple, and adequate. It required only that its
executant should be without bowels of compassion.

Plutina, strong-nerved as she was, found herself shuddering as she
realized the heinousness of this thing. The soft bloom of the roses in
her cheeks faded to white; the dark radiance of the eyes was dimmed
with horror; the exquisite lips were compressed harshly against their
own quivering weakness. For Plutina, despite strength of body and sane
poise of soul, was a gentle and tender woman, and the brutal project
spread before her eyes was an offense to every sensibility. Then, very
soon, the mood of passive distress yielded to another emotion: a lust
for vengeance on the man who would insure his own safety thus,
reckless of another's cost. A new idea came to the girl. At its first
advent, she shrank from it, conscience-stricken, for it outraged the
traditions of her people. But the idea returned, once and again. It
seemed to her that the evil of the man justified her in any measure
for his punishment. She had been bred to hate and despise a spy, but
it was borne in on her now that duty required of her to turn informer
against Dan Hodges. There was more even than the inflicting of
punishment on the outlaw; there was the necessity of safeguarding the
innocent from the menace of those hidden man-traps. Any "furriner"
from