"May God help me at my need," she said, "as I have not above a few
penny pieces in the house."

"And you expect me to believe that! Look here! I will shake the
teeth out of your head, but I will have it from you." And he did
shake her again, using both his hands and striking her against the
wall.

"Would you--murder me?" she said, hardly able now to utter the
words.

"Murder you, yes; why not? I cannot be worse than I am, were I to
murder you ten times over. But with money I may possibly be
better."

"I have it not."

"Then I will do worse than murder you. I will make you such an
object that all the world shall loathe to look on you." And so
saying he took her by the arm and dragged her forth from the wall
against which she had stood.

Then there came from her a shriek that was heard far down the shore
of that silent sea, and away across to the solitary houses of those
living on the other side,--a shriek, very sad, sharp, and
prolonged,--which told plainly to those who heard it of woman's woe
when in her extremest peril. That sound was spoken of in Bermuda
for many a day after that, as something which had been terrible to
hear. But then, at that moment, as it came wailing through the