For an instant following the attack there was no change in the sceneinside the cabin. Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed toretard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall. For hefloundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while thebitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blindingavalanche of white clear to the fireplace. On the floor in the smotherof white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidlyupward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and shehad seen what quickly had followed. Now, though a nameless terror hadseized her, she still watched, unable to withdraw her gaze, powerless tomove or to open her lips.
She saw Lawler standing where he had halted when he had opened thedoor--one hand grasping the bar that he had lifted when he had drawn thedoor back; the other hanging at his side. She saw him dimly through thedriving mist that was between them, but he loomed big, gigantic, as hestood there, motionless in the instant following the attack, watchingLink.
Then the scene changed swiftly. Link was still on the floor when Givensleaped into the cabin. He held a heavy piece of cordwood in one hand,and as he entered the door he paused for an instant, plainly blinded bythe light and the snow. His face was hideous with passion.
Until now, the lamp had been fluttering in the rush of wind. As Givensstood, trying to peer around him, the light spluttered and went out,plunging the cabin into a darkness but little relieved by the dull, redflames in the fireplace.
It was still light enough for the girl to see, however; and she gaspedas she watched Link scramble to his feet and lunge toward the axe. Thenthe semi-darkness was rent by a flame streak that started from whereLawler stood, and the air of the cabin rocked with a deafening roar. Shesaw Link go down in a heap, and before she could draw a breath anotherlancelike flame darted from the point where Lawler stood. She saw Givensstagger; heard the heavy piece of cordwood thud to the floor; saw Givensplunge backward through the door to land in the big drift outside.
Then she huddled down into the bunk, covering her face with her hands,shuddering, cringing from the horror she had witnessed.
When she again opened her eyes the lamp had been lighted and the doorclosed. For a long time she did not move, dreading to peer from thebunk, lest she see a thing that would remind her of the tragedy.
But when, after a while, she found courage to look, she saw Lawlerstanding near the fireplace, looking down into the flames, his back toher.
The axe, she noted, shuddering, was standing on the floor near thewoodpile; and there was no sign of Link or Givens.
For a long time she was silent, watching Lawler, a dread wonder fillingher. And at last, when the continuing silence began to affect her withits horrible monotony, she said, quaveringly:
"Did--you--Are they _dead_?"
"Yes," said Lawler, gruffly; "I took them out back of the windbreak." Hewheeled, to look straight at her, his gaze level and somber.
"I had to do it--there was no other way. I'm sorry you had to see it."
That was all. He did not speak to her again. For a long time she watchedhim, but he did not change position--standing there, tall, big, seemingto brood into the dancing flames that cast grotesque figures over thewalls of the cabin.