He smiled a little. "I don't suppose that fact would upset him much. A
good many people don't exactly love him. But look here, Dot! You're not
a fool. At least, I hope not. You can't seriously wish to shield a thief.
Only this morning you were going to shoot him!"
"Ah!" she said. And then suddenly she pulled up her sleeve and showed him
the mark upon her arm. "But he has saved my life since then," she said.
"What?" said Jack. He caught her arm and looked at it. "You've had a
snake-bite!" he said.
"Yes, Jack."
His eyes went back to her face. "Why didn't you tell me before? What kind
of snake was it?"
She told him, shuddering. "A horrible green thing--green as the grass. I
think it had some black marking on its back. I'm not sure. I didn't stop
to see. I--oh, Jack!" She broke off in swift consternation. "There is a
dead lamb!"
"Ah!" said Jack, and strode across to the barn where it lay, stark and
lifeless in the shade in which it had taken refuge from the afternoon
heat.
"Oh, Jack!" cried Dot, in distress. "What can have happened to it?
Not--not that hateful snake?"
"Not much doubt as to that," said Jack, grimly. "No, don't look too
close! It's not a pretty sight. And don't cry, child! What's the good?"
He drew her away, his arm around her, holding her closely, comforting
her. "It might have been you," he said.
She lifted her wet face from his shoulder.
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