'Nothing, I suppose. It doesn't matter now.' She shot the question at him suddenly: 'Why didn't you save her?'

'I couldn't. Pirrie had made up his mind. I would only have got myself shot as well.'

She said bitterly: 'You're the leader. Are you going to stand by and let people murder each other?'

He looked at her. His voice was cold. 'I thought my life was worth more to you and the children than Millicent's. I still think so, whether you agree or not.'

For a moment they faced each other in silence; then Arm came a step towards him, and he caught her. He heard her whisper:

'Darling, I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean that.

But it's so terrible, and it goes on getting worse. To kill his wife, like that. . . What kind of a life is it going to be for us?'

'When we get to Blind Gill...'

'We shall still have Pirrie with us, shan't we? Oh, John, must we? Can't we - lose him somehow?'

He said gently: 'You're worrying too much. Pirrie is law-abiding enough. I think he had hated Millicent for years. There's been a lot of bloodshed recently, and I suppose it went to his head. It will be different in the valley. We shall have our own law and order. Pirrie will conform.'

'Will he?'

He stroked her arms. 'You,' he said. 'How is it now?

Not quite so bad?'

She shook her head. 'Not quite so bad. I suppose one gets used to everything, even memories.'

By seven o'clock they were all together, and ready to set out. The clouds which had come over the sky still showed gaps of blue, but they had spread far enough to the east to hide the sun.

'Weather less promising,' Roger said.

'We don't want it too hot,' John said. 'We have a