He did not hesitate this time. The moment we were in the road I ran; and after a moment he threw dignity aside and followed. I did not want to think of what was happening in the hut — I couldn’t bear it; I wanted to drive it out of my mind; so I struck into the first subject that lay under that one in my mind:

“I have had the disease those people died of, and so have nothing to fear; but if you have not had it also — ”

He broke in upon me to say he was in trouble, and it was his conscience that was troubling him:

“These young men have got free, they say — but how ?

It is not likely that their lord hath set them free.”

“Oh, no, I make no doubt they escaped.”