blood of
Glorieaux."

"Then I'll git the hull thousand," growled Mike, "an' I'll need it, too,
if I've got to stand this sort of thing much longer."

A confused sound of voices on the other side of the creek attracted the
attention of the men, and caused the woman to raise her head. A moment
later Jude appeared, with a child in his arms, and plunged into the
water.

"Now we'll have him!" cried the parson; "and you, madame, will have your
child. Be ready to chase him, men, if he attempts to run when he gets
ashore."

"Go back! go back!" screamed the woman. "They are after you, these men.
Try to--"

The law-abiding parson placed his hand over the woman's mouth, but found
himself promptly flying backward through space, while Mike roared:

"Touch a woman, will yer? No thousand dollars nor any other money, 'll
hire me to travel with such a scoundrel. Catch him yerself, if yer want
ter,"

"But if you do," said Glorieaux, politely, as he drew his revolver, "it
will be necessary for Glorieaux to slay the Lord's anointed."

"Follered, by thunder!" said Mike.

It was true. During the few seconds which had been consumed in
conversation, Jude got well into the creek. He had not seemed to hear
the woman's warning; but now a greater danger threatened him, for on the
opposite bank of the creek there appeared a man, who commenced firing at
Jude's head and the small portion of his shoulders that was visible.

"The monster. Oh, the wretch!" screamed the woman. "He may hit Johnny,
his only son! Oh, God have mercy on me, and save my child!"

A shot immediately behind her followed the woman's prayer, and Glorieaux
exclaimed, pointing to the opposite bank, where Marksey was staggering
and falling:

"Glorieaux gathered from your words that a divorce would be acceptable,
madame. Behold, you have it!"

"Pity nobody didn't think of it sooner," observed Mike, shading his eyes
as he stared intently at Jude, "for there's a red streak in the water
right behind him."

The woman was already standing at the water's edge, with hands clasped
in an agony of terror and anxiety. The three men hastened to join her.

"Wish I could swim," said Mike, "for he's gettin' weak, an' needs help."

The parson sprang into the water, and, in spite of the chill and the
swift current, he was soon by Jude's side.

"Take the young un," gasped Jude, "for I'm a goner."

"Put your hand on my shoulder," said the parson. "I can get you both
ashore."

'