Darkly the shadow lay upon the Valley of Fear. The spring had
come with running brooks and blossoming trees. There was hope
for all Nature bound so long in an iron grip; but nowhere was
there any hope for the men and women who lived under the yoke of
the terror. Never had the cloud above them been so dark and
hopeless as in the early summer of the year 1875.
Chapter 6 - Danger
It was the height of the reign of terror. McMurdo, who had
already been appointed Inner Deacon, with every prospect of some
day succeeding McGinty as Bodymaster, was now so necessary to the
councils of his comrades that nothing was done without his help
and advice. The more popular he became, however, with the
Freemen, the blacker were the scowls which greeted him as he
passed along the streets of Vermissa. In spite of their terror
the citizens were taking heart to band themselves together
against their oppressors. Rumours had reached the lodge of
secret gatherings in the Herald office and of distribution of
firearms among the law-abiding people. But McGinty and his men
were undisturbed by such reports. They were numerous, resolute,
and well armed.
Pages:
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255